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1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

MICROCO.  .    RESOLUTION   TEST  CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


1.0 


I.I 


2.8 
3.2 


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2.5 


2.2 
2.0 

1.8 


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Rochester.    Ne«    rorn         U609       USA 

(716)    «82  -  OJOO  -  Phone 

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4  Captain 
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A  CAPTAIN  OF  RALEIGH*S 


tt'ORKS  OF 

G.  E.  THEODORE  TiOBERTS 


^8«- 

^  Caplain  of  %aUlgh  '$ 
Jl  Cnalicr  of  VirgMa 
Captain  Loot  .... 
iBfolhtn  of 'PeHl      .     . 
Hemming,  Iht  Jldotnturtt 


Comtade*  of  the  TtaiU 
'Che  lied  Feathert  . 
Flying  Vlovet      .     . 


$1.50 
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-6Q>- 


L.  C  PACE  er  COMPANY 

53  Beacon  Street,  Boston.  Moms. 


/  'U'lulit  v,hi-  my  lilt  iiiiil  my  sl/if)  for  von  ,'    " 


A  CAPTAIN  OF 
RALEIGH'S 

A  TiOMANCE 


Q.  E.  THEODORE  ^ROBERTS 

JIulhoT  of  ••  Jl  CmaHer  of  Virginia,"  "  Comrades 
of  the  VruiU."  "  lied  Feather*,  "  etc. 


With  a  frontispiece  in  full  odor 
from  a  painting  by 

JOHN  QOSS 


BOSTON  ^   L.  C   "PAGE    & 
COMPANY     ♦    MDCCCCXI 


262287 


p 


ir- 


Copyright,  igtt 
By  L.  C.  Page  &  Company 

(.incorporated) 

Entered  at  Stationers'  Hall,  London 

All  rights  reserved 


First  Impression,  February,  191 1 
Second  Impression,  April,  1911 


Eteetrctypid  and  Printed  hf 
THE  COLONIAL  PRESS 
C.  H.  SimmtU  A*  Co.,  Bolton,  U.S.A. 


TO  HT  ISLAND  FRIENDS 

or  NEW   FOUNDLAND   IN   THE   NORTH 

AND     BARBADOS     IN     THE     SOUTH,     THIS 

INACCURATE  ROMANCE   OF  BISTORT 

IS  AFFBCTIONATELT  DEDICATED 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTEB 

I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 
V. 

VI. 

VII. 

VIII. 

IX. 

X. 

XI. 

XII. 

XIII. 

XIV. 

XV. 

XVI. 

XVII. 
XVIII. 

XIX. 
XX. 

XXI. 

XXII. 

XXIII. 

XXIV. 


— • 

PAGE 

At  Home  with  the  Governor  1 
Aboard  the  "  Good  Fortunis  "      .       .       17 
The  Passenger  and  the  Miutary  Com- 
mander        29 

A  Disturber  of  the  Sea  ...  47 

Master    Coffin    Discovers    an    Old 

Friend 59 

This  Governor's  Bad  Day      ...      74 
More  of  the  Governor's  Bad  Day  88 

Two  Gentlemen  at  Odds  .       .103 

The  Unwelcome  Visitors       .       .       .118 
A  Fight  for  Posterity  .  .13.3 

The  Fight  Continues  .      .      .149 

A  Friend  in  Need 163 

With  the  Prisoners 177 

Captain  Percy  to  the  Rescue  .192 

On  Board  the  "  Jaguar  "...     209 
Captain  Percy  Has  to  Face  a  Serious 

Proposition 223 

The  Ruined  Colony 238 

Master  Duwaney's  Wtll  Is  Found  2.54 

The  Executor's  Arrival  ....     269 

The  Magic  Hour 284 

The  Duel  at  Dawn 299 

A  Taste  of  Glory 311 

Another  Case  of  Kidnapping       .       .     326 
Southward  Ho! 338 


CAPTAIN  OF  RALEIGH'S 


CHAPTER  I 

AT   HOME   WITH   THE  OOVEBNOB 

Master  Thomas  Duwaney,  late  an  alder- 
man of  the  city  of  Bristol  and  now  governor, 
under  the  Company  of  Western  Adventurers 
and  Planters,  of  the  plantation  of  Bristol's 
Hope,  sat  before  his  house  and  gazed  east- 
ward across  the  blue  waters  of  Conception 
Bay.  The  winter  was  gone;  and  now  May 
was  well  advanced  and  any  day  might  lift 
the  topsaDs  of  the  Company's  ship  *'  Good 
Fortune  "  above  the  horizon.  Since  the  mid- 
dle of  April  many  vessels  had  come  to  the 
bays  of  the  Newfoundland  —  ships  of  Eng- 
land, France,  Spain,  Portugal  and  the  Neth- 
erlands—  honest  ships  and  freebooters  of 
the  sea  —  galleys  of  twenty  tons,  and  great 


-  -^ 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


craft  with  forecastles  and  poops  as  high  as 
houses,  of  three  hundred  and  even  four  hun- 
dred tons.  Around  in  St.  John's  (so  Du- 
waney  ha  I  heard  from  a  Devon  shipmaster), 
as  many  as  a  hundred  and  twenty  sail,  great 
and  small,  lay  in  the  harbor  on  the  same 

day. 

In  Conception  Bay  the  fishing  was  already 
going  briskly  forward.    At  Guy's  Colony  two 
vessels,  with  supplies  and  new  colonists,  had 
already  arrived.     Captain  Mason,  the  gov- 
ernor of  G  .y's  Colony,  had  sent  a  boat-load 
of  flour,  dried  fruits  and  wine   around  to 
Bristol's  Hope,  a  gift  to  Governor  Duwaney. 
Even  now  Duwaney  had  a  mug  of  that  wine 
at  his  elbow  as  he  sat  in  the  spring  sunshine 
in  front  of  his  house  and  gazed  seaward. 
Now  he  would  lift  the  silver  mug  to  his  lips 
and  now  a  great,  brass  telescope  to  his  eye ; 
but  alert  as  was  his  outlook  for  the  *'  Good 
Fortune,"  his  slow  mind  was  busy  with  a 
do^en  other  matters.    He  had  worries  great 
and  small,  public  and  private,  to  occupy  him 
—  the  cares  appertaining  to  the  position  of 
a  forerunner  of  civilization  and  commerce,  of 


At  Home  with  the  Governor 


a  magistrate  with  the  powers  of  life  and 
death  in  his  hand,  of  the  head  of  an  infant 
colony  threatened  by  buccaneers  and  lawless 
fishermen,  and  of  the  father  of  two  mother- 
less children  —  and,  atop  the  responsibilities 
arising  from  these  honorable  situations  in 
life,  the  great  toe  of  his  left  foot  was  begin- 
ning to  make  itself  a  factor  to  be  reckoned 
with  in  the  ordering  of  day  and  day.  Gout 
had  marked  him  for  its  own  long  ago  at 
municipal  banquets,  and  had  come  to  him,  at 
last,  in  this  unluxurious  outpost  of  human 
activity.  So,  you  see,  this  stout,  middle-aged 
man,  with  his  mug  of  wine,  which  he  should 
not  have  tasted,  and  his  telescope,  had  the 
cares  of  empire,  of  the  law,  of  military  lead- 
ership, of  fatherhood  and  the  trials  of  the 
flesh  all  with  him  at  once.  How  he  main- 
tained his  fat  and  (save  on  occasion)  his  good 
humor,  under  these  trying  conditions,  baffles 
imagination. 

A  twinge  in  the  offending  toe  shifted  tlie 
channel  of  the  governor's  thoughts  from  the 
expected  ship  to  the  sufferings  of  three  sick 
men  of  the  colony.    Another  twinge  brought 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


the  threatening  sea-rovers,  and  the  Devon 
fishers  who  denied  his  authority,  to  his  mind. 
Another  stab  of  pain  —  and  purely  family 
matters  occupied  his  attention.  Never  were 
the  governor's  mental  activities  so  diversi- 
fied as  when  the  gout  was  prodding  at  his  toe 
with  its  invisible,  red-hot  lancet.  This  fam- 
ily matter  was  not  of  a  heartening  nature. 
It  was  of  his  children,  who  were  twins  and 
now  close  upon  twenty  years  of  age.  Their 
names  were  Thomas  and  Elizabeth.  Of 
course  they  had  been  left  behind  in  the  big 
house  in  Bristol,  in  the  care  of  a  maiden  aunt, 
a  capable  housekeeper  and  a  trusty  man- 
servant. The  thing  that  worried  the  gov- 
ernor was  Thomas's  weakness  of  spirit  and 
wit.  To  a  prosperous  fellow  like  Duwaney, 
who  had  dreams  of  founding  a  gentle  famih 
on  the  rich  harvests  of  his  tradings,  to  have 
to  acknowledge,  —  even  if  but  to  himself,  — 
that  his  only  son  was  lacking  in  both  shrewd- 
ness and  courage,  was  a  dismal  experience. 
But,  having  arrived  at  this  decision  in  the 
autuiiin,  he  had  sent  word  by  the  last  ship 
eastu  ard  bound  for  Tom  to  come  to  him  on 


At  Home  with  the  Governor 


the  "  Good  Fortune,"  in  the  spring.  He 
meant  to  try  to  beat  some  manhood  and  com- 
mon-sense into  him,  with  the  help  of  rough 
and  stirring  events,  dangers  and  exposures, 
and  young  Donald  MacAllister.  Aye,  if  the 
lad  would  but  take  MacAllister  for  his  model, 
there  would  be  hope  for  him.  In  MacAllis- 
ter, who  was  second  in  command  at  Bristol's 
Hope,  Duwaney  saw  what  he  had  once  hoped 
to  find  in  his  own  son  —  courage,  high  spirits, 
energy  and  strength. 

It  appeared  to  him  hard  that  these  quali- 
ties should  have  been  granted  to  the  heir  to 
a  Scotch  house  of  long-established  distinction, 
and  denied  to  his  own  son,  who  required  them 
as  the  very  foundation  on  which  to  rear  aloft 
the  House  of  Duwaney.  In  the  matter  of 
worldly  gear  the  MacAllisters  of  Glenroe 
could  not  compare  with  ex-Alderman  Du- 
waney, governor  of  Bristol's  Hope;  but  that 
the  MacAllisters  outdid  him  in  possessions  of 
another  kind,  the  governor  was  the  first  to 
admit. 

Duwaney  was  still  thinking  of  his  son  when 
young  MacAllister  came  to  him  from  down 


A  Captain  of  Ralcigh*s 


by  the  edge  of  the  water,  wliere  he  had  been 
Buperintending  the  repairing  of  a  boat  that 
had  been  damaged  by  the  ice  earlier  in  the 
season.     The   young   Scotchman   was   not 
fleshy,  but  of  a  strikingly  robust  appearance. 
He  stood  over  six  feet  high  in  his  heavy  sea- 
man's boots,  was  broad  of  shoulder,  lean  but 
broad  of  face  and  long  of  arm.    His  eyes 
were  dark  brown;    and  his  hair,  which  he 
wore  plainly  tied  and  unpowdered,  was  also 
dark  brown,  but  with  a  tint  of  richer  color  in 
it.     His  sun-tanned  brow  and  cheeks  were 
freckled,  and  wind  and  weather  had  rough- 
ened and  reddened  the  skin  on  his  long  nose. 
But  he  had  a  pleasing  look,  in  spite  of  these 
things  — a  pleasant  smile,  a  light  of  more 
than  ordinary  intelligence  and  honesty  in  his 
eyes,  strength  in  brow  and  bearing,  and  an 
air  of  courage  and  breeding  over  all.    He 
wore  serviceable  clothes,  a  faded  hat,  and 
carried  an  axe  in  his  right  hand. 

Duwaney  was  glad  to  have  his  lieutenant 
interrupt  his  dismal  train  of  thought. 

**  We  have  mended  the  broken  boat,"  said 
MacAllister.   **  She  is  tight  as  a  drum." 


At  Home  with  the  Governor  7 


"  I  wish  you  could  mend  my  poor  foot, 
lad,"  replied  the  governor. 

Donald  glanced  at  the  silver  mug  at  the 
other's  elbow,  and  smiled. 

"Tut!  Tutl  "  exclaimed  Duwaney,  inter- 
preting the  glance.  -  A  tun  of  that  thin, 
mean  wash  would  do  a  man  no  barm  save 
for  the  distending  of  his  waistcoat.  Pooh! 
that  will  never  heat  the  blood.  Go  get  a 
measure  of  it  fo.  yourself,  lad,  and  bring  it 
out  here  in  the  sunshine." 

The  young  Scot  stepped  into  the  house, 
and  soon  returned  with  a  stoup  of  the  Por- 
tugal wine  and  a  three-legged  stool.  He 
seated  himself  close  to  the  governor. 

"The  work  goes  well,  sir,"  he  said. 
"  Five  boats  are  at  the  fishing  this  very 
minute;  Jordan  is  eased  of  his  colic;  Polly 
Dawes  is  recovered  of  her  sore  hand,  and 
Martin,  Smith  and  Paul  March  are  in  the 
woods  cutcing  poles  for  the  new  stages.  If 
the  '  Good  Fortime  '  but  arrive,  and  with  a 
fair  passa^o.  before  the  West-countrymen 
crowd  into  ihh  bay,  'twill  be  a  hopeful  out- 
look for  the  plantation." 


8 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


The  governor  nodded.  '*  Aye,  if  the  ship 
would  but  hasten,"  he  said.  *'  I  am  eager 
to  have  the  lad  Tom  ashore  here,  that  we 
may  clear  his  brain  of  some  of  the  foolish- 
ness that  swashes  about  in  it  like  bilge-water 
in  the  well  of  a  leaky  ship." 

*'  May  I  ask,  sir,  how  your  son  exhibits 
this  —  this  lack  of  solidity  of  mind  of  which 
you  complain?  "  queried  the  Scot,  politely. 

The  governor  breathed  heavily  through  his 
nose  and  scanned  the  east  with  his  telescope 
before  replying.  **  He  writes  verses!  — 
verses  to  the  moon  —  aye,  and  to  ancient 
Romish  goddesses!  "  he  said,  thickly. 

**  Sol  "  exclaimed  MacAllistjr.  Then  he 
smiled.  **  But  'tis  not  such  a  bad  sign,  after 
all,"  he  said.  **  Think  it  over,  sir,  and  the 
na^es  of  a  number  of  the  bravest  and  most 
distinguished  gentlemen  of  our  time,  who  in- 
dulge in  the  same  harmless  frivolity,  will 
come  to  your  mind.  'Tis  considered  a  very 
polite  accomplishiixent. " 

**  A  scurvy  trade,"  said  the  ex-merchant, 
scornfully. 

**  Not  at  all,  sir,"  replied  MacAJlister.   **  I 


At  Home  with  the  Governor 


9 


cannot  hold  with  you  there,  sir.  A  most  ele- 
gant pastime,  I  assure  you,  and  played  by 
men  of  the  best  breeding  and  most  daring 
occupations  in  life.  Who  will  turn  you  so 
neat  a  rhyme  as  a  soldier  or  a  sailor!  What 
of  our  sweet  Sidney  and  our  brave  Walter? 
Why,  'tis  a  game  for  kings,  sir,  like  chess, 
military  campaigning  and  stag-hunting." 

But  Duwaney  shook  his  head.  **  You 
speak  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,"  he  replied. 
"  Then  tell  me,  what  has  all  this  scribbling 
of  rhymes  done  for  that  adventurous  knight? 
He  is  a  failure  — a  man  who  has  let  great 
opportunities  slip  through  his  fingers  while 
he  sat  and  scratched  with  his  quill  at  har- 
monizing words.  Love  and  dove!  Bah!  He 
has  been  in  prison,  who  had  the  world  at  his 
feet  —  and  his  love  and  dove  to  thank  for  it. 
And  now  how  does  he  stand?  He  is  still  the 
plaything  of  chance.  After  all  this  glory  and 
hardship  a  poor  voyage  will  break  him  —  a 
whisper  overthrow  him.  I  could  name  you 
a  hundred  quiet  merchants  who  enjoy  more 
stability  of  fortune  than  this  great  admiral, 
this  glorious  general.    Even  now  he  throws 


10  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


his  last  main  —  rattles  the  ivory  cup  for  the 
last  time.  'Twas  in  the  wind  last  smnmer 
how  nearly  the  game  draws  to  an  end  —  how 
his  tropical  colonies  are  ashes,  his  mines  of 
gold  and  of  silver  nought  but  air,  and  his 
ships  abroad  upon  the  sea,  lawless  and  mas- 

terless." 

MacAllister    flushed    darkly    under    his 
freckled  skm.    ''  Sir,  I  have  sailed  a  voyage 
with  that  great  knight,"  he  said.    "  He  has 
succeeded  in  a  hundred  ventures  — in  bat- 
tles, in  plantations,  in  voyages  and  affairs  of 
state.     Great  he  is,  and  has  been,  of  heart 
and  mind  — and  by  what  authority  do  you 
name  him  a  failure?    You  would  measure  his 
accomplishments  in  life  by  the  commercial 
fortunes  of  some  petty  traders.    You  might 
as  wisely  go  measure  the  sea  yonder  with  a 
linen-draper's    yard-stick.     What    said   my 
Lord  Bacon  of  the  proper  management  of 
colonial  affairs?    He  said  —  " 

♦'Tut!  Tut!  "  cried  Duwnney.  "I'll  hear 
no  more,  Master  MacAllister!  Mind  you, 
sir,  that  T  am  the  governor  of  this  plantation. 
Though  the  Tree  of  Knowledge  itself  be  pic- 


At  Home  with  the  Governor        11 

tured  on  the  coat-of -arms  of  your  family,  1  '11 
not  be  browbeat  by  you.  You  bear  yourself 
in  a  high  and  disrespectful  manner  towards 
me,  Master  MacAUister. " 

'•  If  so,  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,"  said  the 
Scot. 

"  Enough  said,"  replied  the  governor. 

**  I  spoke  without  diplomacy,"  admitted 
MacAUister.  *•  That  knight  stands  higher  in 
my  eyes  than  any  liviag  man." 

**  And  right,  too.  A  gentleman  of  great 
parts  is  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,"  said  Duwaney. 

For  several  minutes  the  two  sat  in  silence, 
each  busy  with  his  own  thoughts.  The  sun, 
high  in  the  southeast,  beat  warmly  down 
upon  the  half-dozen  rough  buildings  of  the 
colony.  The  boats  were  out  on  the  blue 
waters  of  the  bay,  in  plain  sight,  taking  fat 
fish  with  hook  and  line  as  fast  as  the  fisher- 
men could  haul  in  and  lower  away.  From  the 
woods  of  spruce  and  fir  up  the  little  river, 
came  the  faint,  concise  thnp-thup  of  axe- 
blade  upon  wood.  From  the  cluster  of  build- 
ings near  at  hand  arose  clearer  and  sharper 
sounds  of  human  activities  —  the  clash  and 


^WBmB«IW!B-i!«?-f 


rrr 


12 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


ring  of  John  Cope's  sledge  on  white-hot  iron, 
the  lighter  note  of  Bill  Cope's  hammer  shap- 
ing spikes,  springing  away  from  the  soft 
iron  after  every  stroke  to  clatter  twice  upon 
the  anvil.  And  there  came  a  noise  of  tapping 
upon  staves  from  Peter  Cooper's  little  coop- 
erage, and  from  one  of  the  dwellings  the 
harsh  outcry  of  a  metal  spoon  scraping 
around  the  edges  of  an  iron  pot. 

**  Homely  and  comfortable  sounds,"  re- 
marked Donald  MacAllister. 

'*  Prosperous  sounds,"  responded  the  gov- 
ernor. 

'*  I  think,"  said  Donald,  '*  that  the  foun- 
dations of  a  colony,  set  in  this  bleak  land, 
lie  securer  than  those  set  in  less  rigorous 
climes.  Here  a  man  must  work  before  he 
may  eat;  and  so  he  is  taupht  industry  by 
that  most  insistent  of  teachers  — his  own 

belly." 

**  Aye,  lad,"  replied  Duwaney,  "  *tis  a 
fair  enough  habitation,  this,  for  him  who  has 
en  ample  wood-stack  and  a  full  storehouse, 
and  a-plenty  of  work  to  occupy  mind  and 
body.    Here  are  no  wild  and  bloodthirsty 


?S5S; 


At  Home  with  the  Governor        13 


savages  to  fear,  for  the  Beothics  are  a  harm- 
less people.    The  roaring  fishers  from  Devon, 
and  the  black-hearted,  grasping  pirates,  are 
the  curse  of  the  place;    and  they,  Heaven 
knows,  are  not  native  evils.    A  deal  of  rogu- 
ery is  carried  on  in  the  name  of  trade  —  and 
safe  enough,  too,  with  all  these  wide,  salt 
miles  awelter  between  the  rogues  and  Eng- 
lish gallows.    In  truth,  I  know  not  which  be 
the  more  dangerous  to  honest  commerce  and 
the  plant  ;  ions  — the  Devon  men  who  come 
in  the  guise  of  law-abiding  fishers,  yet,  in 
their  greed  of  the  fishing,  hate  to  see  any 
foundation  of  dwelling  fixed  upon  the  land,  or 
tlie  slashing,  glass-chewing  freebooters.  The 
gentlemen  of  fortune  are,  in  truth,  the  more 
honest  in  their  wickednesses.     For  robbers 
they  know  themselves  and  for  robbers  they 
are  known.    When  one  espies  a  gentleman  of 
that  kidney  he  loads  his  culverins  and  fal- 
conets without  compunction,  and,  perchance, 
obtains  the  advantage  of  the  first  shot ;  but 
we  cannot  fly  so  openly  to  arms  against  our 
own  countrymen,  who  come  witli  fish-lines  in 
their  left  hands  —  though  well  we  know  that 


a 


^ 


14 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


!| 


their  right  hands  are  clasped  upon  the  hafts 
of  their  knives  and  the  butts  of  their  pis- 
tols." 

**  'Tis  like  reading  a  book,  to  hear  you 
talk,  sir,"  said  Donald,  with  the  frankness 
of  the  period  and  of  his  own  nature.  '*  Be- 
yond a  doubt,  the  West  Country  fishermen, 
and  the  powerful  gentlemen  behind  them,  are 
a  great  menace  to  the  planting  of  these  colo- 
nies. They  have  no  aspirations  above  the 
filling  of  their  pockets  with  the  wealth  of  the 
fishing-grounds.  They  are  lawless.  I  have 
heard  that  they  make  no  more  bones  of  spoil- 
ing a  Frenchman  of  his  catch  or  his  salt  than 
of  buying  a  flask  of  wine.  Might  is  right 
with  those  bully  fellows,  as  sure  as  their  ugly 
faces  grow  whiskers.  I  hope,  sir,  that  you 
will  use  a  strong  hand  to  control  their  go- 
ings-on in  the  waters  and  harbors  of  this 
^  lantation." 

'*  Aye,  lad,  you  may  trust  me  to  show  them 
who  is  master  in  Bristol's  Hope,  if  they  come 
here  with  any  of  their  piratical  tricks  and 
their  talk  of  harbor  admirals.  I'll  show  them 
that  the  days  of  harbor  admirals  and  fishing 


^^■■2-7^^^'^ 


mr^^'ahst'wmf 


-'fr' f^^aFi-w 


At  Home  with  the  Governor         15 


admirals  are  deud  and  gone,  now  that 
Thomas  Duwaney  is  here,  with  the  King's 
commission,  and  the  Company's  commission 
under  the  Royal  Charter.  They'll  learn  that 
they  are  not  dealing  with  any  weathercock 
dreamer  like  Gilbert." 

AfacAllister   was   pleased   with   the   gov- 
ernor's spirit.    He  was  of  fighting  stock  him- 
self, and  liked  to  see  instinct  for  combat 
warm  in  the  stout  ex-merchant.    To  keep  him 
up  to  the  proper  pitch  of  combative  ardor  he 
had    played    upon    his    temper    frequently, 
tliroughout  the  past  winter,  with  talk  of  the 
insolence  of  pirates  and  Devon  fishermen. 
And  the  talk  was  true.     Of  pirates  one  ex- 
pects few  virtues;   but  of  one's  fellow-coun- 
trymen it  is  surely  not  unreasonable  to  look 
for  fair  treatment,  at  least.    But  fair  treat- 
ment was  a  thing  that  the  struggling  colo- 
nists of  Newfoundland  had  long  ceased  to 
expect  from  the  men  who  had  no  interests 
in  the  island  save  full  cargoes  of  fish.    The 
burly  fellows  from  the  West  Country  looked 
upon  every  settler  in  the  harbors  as  a  men- 
ace to  their  time-honored  privileges  of  fish- 


16 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


ing  rights  and  harbor  and  shore  rights.  The 
fishers  had  strong  court  influence  behind 
them.  Even  though  the  plantations  were 
under  charters  directly  or  indirectly  from  the 
sovereign,  the  Devon  skippers  mishandled 
them  without  fear  of  the  consequences. 


■K^',  iX'-'vt'rr^^y  £^,^im^imamire^'^->^.^s^Km3mr^^z^Mf'!S^^Bi^r''r^^:s> 


CHAPTER   II 

ABOARD  THE  **  GOOD   FORTUNE  " 

While  Governor  Duwaney  and  the  men 
and  women  of  his  colony  were  recovering 
from  the  loneliness  and  confinement  of  the 
long  winter  far  away  beyond  the  western 
ocean,  in  the  big  house  in  Bristol  a  queer 
thing  happened  and  shrewd  plans  were  un- 
done.   Three  hours  before  the  "  Good  For- 
tune's "  westward  sailing,  Elizabeth  Duwa- 
ney went  to  her  brother  and  whispered  a 
startling  suggestion  into  his  ear.    But  Tom 
was  not  startled.    Though  poets  are  often 
shocked  and  disturbed  by  such  matters  as 
false  rhymes  and  a  halting  rhythm,  they  as 
frequently  remain  cool  and  uncomprehending 
amid  the  tumult  of  mobs  and  the  tottering  of 
thrones.    For  a  minute,  Tom  stared  blankly 
at  his  sister  and  continued  to  mumble  a  line 
that  was  not  yet  quite  to  his  fancy.    Then 
he  threw  down  his  quill  (for  he  was  in  the 

17 


18 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


1} 


heat  of  a  fine  lyrical  composition),  sprang 
to  his  feet  and  embraced  her. 

"Bess,  you  are  a  jewel!"  ho  cried. 
•'  This  is  the  best  thing  I've  heard  in  a 
twelve  month.  Aye,  and  you'll  play  the  part 
a  deal  better  than  I  ever  could." 

*'  'Twill  suit  every  one  but  our  dear  father; 
and  even  he,  no  doubt,  will  accept  our  way 
of  looking  at  it  after  he  recovers  from  the 
first  stroke,"  replied  the  young  lady. 

Tom  Duwaney  rubbed  his  brow  reflectively 
with  the  tips  of  his  scholarly  fingers.  "  Per- 
haps not  every  one,"  said  he.  '*  What  about 
that  old  jackanapes  Sir  Stephen?  He'll 
make  a  disturbance,  I  warrant  you,  next  time 
he  calls.    But  let  hiin  ramp,  the  old  idiot!  " 

So  it  happened  that  Mistress  Elizabeth 
Duwaney  went  aboard  the  Company's  ship 
**  Good  Fortune,"  dressed  in  her  brother's 
best  suit  of  velvet  and  lace,  his  finest  hat  and 
his  longest  cloak.  And  Master  Tom  returned 
to  his  lyrical  task,  at  peace  with  the  fantastic 
world  inhabited  by  his  poetic  soul,  and  dis- 
turbed by  not  so  much  as  a  twinge  of  con- 
science at  the  f'''ngerous  and  unusual  course 


Aboard  the  "  Good  Fortune  "        19 


which  he  had  permitted  his  si'^       to  under- 
take. 

Elizabeth  went  straight  to  the  little  cabin 
that  hud  been  reserved  for  Master  Tom,  and 
stayed  there,  behind  a  closed  door,  for  sev- 
eral hours.    She  felt  no  regret  at  turning  her 
back  upon  the  city  of  Bristol,  for  life  with 
her  brother  and  her  aunt,  the  model  house- 
keeper   and    the    trusty    man-servant,    had 
proved  a  dull  affair.   Her  only  acquaintance 
among  the  gentlemen  of  the  city  and  sur- 
rounding country  was  Sir  Stephen  Morris, 
a   middle-aged   baronet   of   ancient   family. 
ITo  himself  seemed  as  ancient  as  his  famj'v, 
to  Elizabeth.    For  a  year  past  she  had  known 
that  the  baronet  was  anxious  to  marry  her, 
and  that  he  had  her  father's  consent  and 
encouragement.     But   she  entertained  finer 
ideas  of  life  and  love  than  her  ambitious  par- 
ent the  ex-alderman  —  otherwise  I'd  not  be 
writing  this  history. 

Elizabeth's  cabin  was  well-nigh  filled  with 
her  boxes  and  bags,  for  she  had  brought 
complete  and  generous  outfits  of  both  femi- 
nine and  -lasculine  attire.  She  sat  quietly  on 


"*"W 


20 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


one  of  the  boxes,  waiting  for  the  ship  to  get 
well  away  from  the  harbor  before  running 
any  risk  of  having  her  disguise  pierced  by 
the  master  until  such  time  as  their  distance 
from  port  should  weigh  materially  on  the 
side  of  her  arguments  against  turning  back. 
She  had  noticed  that  the  shipmaster  was  an 
old  man  —  older,  even,  than  Sir  Stephen. 
But,  young  or  old,  mariners  are  men;  and 
Elizabeth  need  have  entertained  no  fear  of 
being  sent  back  to  Bristol  against  her  will. 
She  sat  on  the  box  and  smiled  a  little  at  the 
thought  of  how  Sir  Stephen  would  behave  at 
the  news  of  her  departure ;  and  she  pictured 
her  father's  amazement,  and  rage,  upon  her 
arrival  at  Bristol's  Hope  —  and  even  at  that 
she  smiled.  She  was  a  merry  and  high- 
spirited  young  woman,  beyond  a  doubt.  Also, 
she  was  quite  as  beautiful  and  attractive  as 
any  mortal  has  a  right  to  be.  Even  to  see 
her  in  that  narrow,  clutterea  cabin,  rigged 
out  in  Tom's  clothes  and  cloaked  and  booted, 
was  to  understand  poor  Sir  Stephen's  feel- 
ings in  the  matter.  Her  eyes  were  blue  — 
or  gray!    Nobody  seemed  to  be  quite  sure 


Aboard  the  "  Good  Fortune  "       «l 


which,  even  at  the  tirae  of  looking.    Her  hair 
was  of  a  shade  believed  to  be  gold  by  Sir 
Stephen    and    pronounced    brown    by    her 
brother.     Now  she  wore  it  clipped  to  less 
than  one  half  of  its  usual  length ;  and  it  lay, 
bright  and  waving,  on  her  shoulders,  in  the 
style  affected  by  the  fashionable  cavaliers  of 
the  time.    I  am  at  a  loss  for  new  words  and 
terms  with  which  to  describe  her  face  and 
iigure.     Anyway,  descriptions  of  this  kind 
are  seldom  successful.    Her  features  were 
charming,  and  her  complexion  was  satisfac- 
tory and  neither  very  light  nor  very  dark. 
She  was  neither  fat  nor  lean;    and  though 
she  was  taller  than  many  women,  she  was, 
UDdoubledly,  not  so  tall  as  many.    I  hope  I 
have  made  myself  clear. 

At  last  Elizabeth  left  her  seat  on  the  box 
and  opened  the  door  of  her  cabin.  She 
moved  stumblingly  in  her  brother's  great 
.iack-boots,  despite  the  fact  that  she  had 
stuffed  them  about  the  toes  and  ankles  with 
silk  handkerchiefs,  to  improve  their  fit.  She 
had  not  discarded  the  long  cloak  and  hat. 
Her  room  opened  into  the  main  cabin  under 


TnrfBgw.ijv,'.^  I. 


22  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


the  high  poop-deck.  The  place  was  dhnly 
lighted  by  the  s(iuare  port  in  the  steru ;  and 
by  that  dim  light  she  saw  the  figure  of  a  man 
stooped  over  the  table  in  the  centre  of  the 
cabin.  At  the  sound  of  the  door  complaining 
on  its  hinges,  the  man  glanced  up  from  the 
chart  unrolled  on  the  table. 
"  Good  day  to  you,  Master  Duwaney,"  he 

said. 
"  And   to    you,    sir,"   replied   Elizabeth, 

pleasantly. 

The  man  uttered  an  exclamation  of  amaze- 
ment  at  the   silvery   tones   of   Master  Du- 
waney's  voice.     The  girl  understood,  in  a 
moment,  what  the  matter  was.    A  step  each 
brought  the  two  within  clear  view  of  each 
other.    "What  the  girl  saw  was  a  pale  young 
man,  thin  as  a  wand,  with  pale  hair  and  pale, 
spiritless  eyes,  a  large,  gentle  mouth  and  a 
receding  chin.    His  clothes  were  somewhat 
shabby  but  pretentious  of  cut  and  color,  and 
at  his  side  hung  a  light  rapier.    The  expres- 
sion of  bewilderment  on  his  gentle  face  was 
laughable.    Wliat  the  young  man  saw  —  and 
knew   that  he  saw  — was  a  charming  and 


??ssBm?3affSS'Ssr^. 


Aboard  the  "  Good  Fortune  "        23 


undismayed  youug  lady  dressed  up  in  what 
was  evidently  the  pick  of  some  wealthy  gen- 
tleman's  wardrobe. 

"  I  — I  beg  your  pardon,"  he  staiimKred. 

The  girl  laughed  softly.    ♦*  You  d.:-.]  not 
do  that,"  she  said.    '*  I  am  the  oifender.    I 
nmst  beg  your  pardon,  and  Master  Spike's 
too." 

The  young  man  continued  to  stare  at  her 
with  an  amiable  but  abashed  regard,  his  thin 
cheeks  aflame  and  his  feet  shuffling  uneasily. 
The  girl  blushed  for  his  confusion. 

"No,  no!"  he  cried.  -  I  am  sure  that 
you  have  offended  in  nothing!  Allow  me, 
madame  — sir  — at  least,  madame  — that  h, 
which  you  will  — to  most  respectfully  intro- 
duce myself.  I  am  Harold  Coffin,  an  un- 
notable  gentleman-adventurer  and  your  hum- 
ble servant,  madame." 

Elizabeth  saw  that  the  game  of  disguise 
was  at  an  end  -  at  least  as  far  as  this  shabby 
young  Master  Coffin  was  concerned.  She 
stepped  forward  and  frankly  extended  her 
hand,  showing  none  of  tliose  signs  of  silly 
confusion  and  coyness  tliat  were  fashionable 


24 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


among  the  young  ladies  of  the  day  in  all 
parts  of  England  save  the  court  in  London. 
(Even  pretended  shyness  was  not  noticeable 
in  the  court  of  King  James  the  First.) 

*♦  My  name  is  Duwaney,"  said  the  girl. 
"  But  it  is  Elizabeth  in  place  of  Thomas." 

Coffin  took  her  hand  very  lightly  upon  the 
back  of  his  own,  as  if  she  were  a  queen  or 
a  princess,  bowed  low  and  raised  it  to  his 

lips. 
"  I  cannot  find  it  in  my  heart  to  regret  the 

change,"  he  said. 

After  that,  they  stood  in  silence  for  almost 
a  minute,  looking  inquiringly  at  each  other 
and  smiling  nervously. 

**  What  course  do  you  advise  me  to  follow. 
Master  Coffin?  "  asked  the  girl,  at  last. 

"  None  other  than  that  which  will  carry 
you  all  the  way  to  the  Newfoundland  in  our 
company,"  replied  the  young  man,  squaring 
his  narrow  shoulders  and  touching  his  hand 
to  the  guard  of  his  rapier  with  an  air  of 
gallantry. 

♦'  On  that  T  am  already  determined,  sir; 
but  what  do  you  advise  in  the  matter  of  this 


■  /■>  --''Wk^ 


Aboard  the  "  Good  Fortune  "        25 

pocr  disguise?  "  returned  Eliza  jeth.  '*  Siiall 
I  try  to  maintain  it,  or  shall  I  throw  myself 
upon  Master  Spike's  mercy  and  good  nature 
and  beg  him  not  to  put  the  ship  about  and 
pack  me  back  to  Bristol?  " 

"  Will  you  tell  me  first,  my  dear  lady,  why 
you  have  undertaken  this  long  and  hazardous 
voyage?  "  queried  Coffin. 

"  Simply  for  change  and  excitement,"  con- 
fessed Elizabeth.    **  My  brother  was  willing 
that  I  should  take  his  place,  as  he  is  very 
busy  with  writing  verses;    and  I  am  not 
afraid  of  either  the  voyage  or  my  dear  fa- 
ther's anger,  for  I  doubt  not  this  stout  ship 
will  accomplish  the  one  and  Governor  Du- 
waney's  sense  of  humor  will  allay  the  other." 
"  In  that  case,"  replied  Master  Coffin,  "  if 
you  will  take  the  advice  of  a  very  poor  gen- 
tleman —  of  one  who  has  been  cheated  of  his 
fair  estate  and  cast  abroad  penniless  —  you 
will  forsake  the  idea  of  this  disguise,  becom- 
ing as  it  is.   I  think  that  even  from  old  Spike 
you  could  not  hide  the  truth  for  long.    That 
you  are  not  — ah,  your  brother  — my  dear 
Mistress  Elizabeth,  is  a  fact  impossible  to 


26 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


conceal  unless  you  choose  to  wrap  yourself 
in  blankets  from  the  crown  of  your  borrowed 
hat  to  the  soles  of  your  borrowed  jack-boots. 
Though  I  am  no  courtier,  I  knew  the  truth 
at  the  first  note  of  your  voice.  A  glance  of 
your  eye  would  tell  all  even  to  Spike,  more 
accustomed  though  he  be  to  the  gleam  of  sun 
on  water  than  to  that  finer  illumination.  So 
I  advise  you  to  immediately  confess  your 
play  to  the  shipmaster.  And  you  need  enter- 
tain no  fear  of  the  "  Good  Fortune  "  being 
put  about  against  your  wishes,  for  even 
should  old  Spike  prove  such  a  monster  as 
to  contemplate  returning  you  to  Bristol,  I 
have  authority  enough  aboard  this  craft  to 
stay  his  hand." 

"  You  are  very  kind  to  me,"  murmured 
Elizabeth,  allowing  her  eyes  to  dwell,  for  a 
moment,  on  Master  Coffin's  face.  '*  I  thank 
you  with  my  whole  heart,"  she  continued, 
lowering  her  gaze  from  his  eyes  to  his  well- 
worn  foot-gear.  **  I  cannot  understand  why 
you  champion  me  so  readily,  sir,  for  T  am 
nought  but  a  total  stranger  to  you." 

Harold  Coffin  bowed,  and  smiled  with  a 


■Mf'vr^'u^^.K'.'z-^ 


Aboard  the  "  Good  Fortune 


M 


27 


light  in  his  eyes  that  was  almost  pathetic  in 
its  whimsical  tenderness.  **  It  is  a  gentle- 
man's privilege  to  champion  any  woman  who 
may  stand  in  need  of  his  services, ' '  he  said. 
"  In  this  case  the  privilege  is  an  extraordi- 
nary pleasure."  He  paused  for  a  moment; 
then,  in  a  slightly  higher  tone,  **  Poor,  un- 
successful and  weak  as  I  am,"  he  continued, 
"  I  cannot  pretend  to  remain  untouched  by 
such  beauty  and  grace  as  yours.  Do  not 
think  me  impertinent,  my  dear  lady,  I  beg 
of  you,  for  I  speak  with  all  respect  — aye, 
with  homage !  Miserable  outcast  that  I  am, 
robbed  of  my  inheritance  and  abandoned  by 
my  class,  the  sight  of  you  has  gone  to  my 
sorry  head  like  wine. ' ' 

He  stood  staring  at  her  for  a  moment,  as 
if  listening  to  the  echo  of  his  mad  words  — 
then  flushed  crimson  and  averted  his  face. 

Elizabeth's  tender  heart  was  sharply 
touched.  The  gentle  and  pensive  smile,  the 
pale  face,  narrow  shoulders  and  shabby  at- 
tire, were  enough  to  excite  pity  in  even  a  less 
sympathetic  breast  than  this  honest  young 
lady's. 


)  i 


28 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


"  You  cannot,  you  must  not  think,  for  a 
moment,  that  I  am  offended  with  you,  Master 
Coffin,"  she  said,  tremulously.  "  Your  words 
show  a  noble  nature,  and  I  thank  you  from 
my  heart  for  them.  I  am  glad  that  you  con- 
sider me  —  ah,  not  repulsive  in  appearance. 
But  your  unhappiness  distresses  me.  Why 
has  injustice  been  your  portion?  Have  you 
no  friends  to  stand  with  you  against  your 
oppressors?  By  your  manner  and  your 
name  I  know  you  to  come  of  a  distinguished 
family  in  the  West  —  in  my  own  country. 
Please  tell  me  your  trouble,  Master  Coffin." 

**  It  makes  but  a  shabby  tale,  my  dear  lady, 
and  I  should  think  shame  of  myself  if  I  were 
brought  to  inflicting  it  upon  you,  worthless, 
poor-spirited  apology  for  a  man  that  I  am, ' ' 
replied  the  youth,  with  open  bitterness. 
**  But  hark  ye,  I  hear  the  shipmaster's  boots 
in  the  outer  cabin." 

Both  turned  their  faces  toward  the  door, 
which  opened  at  that  moment  and  admitted 
the  bulky  person  of  Benjamin  Spike,  master 
mariner. 


■•^y^-lKM 


CHAPTER  III 

THE  PASSENGER  AND  THE  MILITARY  COMMANDER 

Master  Coffin  stepped  forward.  "  Ben- 
jamin, old  shipmate,"  said  he,  "  have  you 
given  good  day  to  our  passenger,  the  gov- 
ernor's child?  " 

Old  Spike  advanced,  with  a  great  hand  ex- 
tended. 

*'  A  good  day  to  ye,  master,"  he  rumbled. 
''  YeVe  fetched  a  fair  wind  aboard  with  ye 
to  blow  us  off  the  coast,  an»  I  thank  ye  for 
it." 

Elizabeth  clapped  her  strong,  slender  hand 
into  the  great  paw. 

"  If  I  bring  you  not  good  luck  for  the 
whole  voyage,  then  you  may  toss  me  to  the 
fishes,  Master  Spike,"  she  said,  merrily. 

The  old  mariner  gaped  at  her,  holding 
tight  to  her  hand  and  blinking  his  deep-set 
eyes  as  if  he  were  looking  into  a  furnace 
door. 

29 


IJ         :1 


30  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 

"  I  hope  you  are  not  angry,"  said  Eliza- 
beth, withdrawing  her  hand.  *'  My  brolLar 
could  not  come,  so  I  came  along  in  his 
stead." 

'*  You  will  observe,  Benjamin,  that  Master 
Duwaney  is  not  exactly  what  we  expected  — 
in  other  words,  that  the  young  gentleman  has 
turned  out  to  be  a  young  lady,"  said  Master 
Coffin,  speaking  very  ({uickly  and  laying  his 
hand  on  the  old  man's  arm.  ''  But  you  may 
take  my  word  for  it,  old  sea-dog,  there's 
neither  treason  nor  mutiny  in  it  — nothing, 
I  do  assure  you,  that  even  a  bishop  could  take 
exception  to.  But  Mistress  Elizabeth  will 
state  the  case  herself,  and  so  ably  that  you'll 
wonder  how  it  was  that  we  ever  expected  any 
other  sort  of  passenger." 

"It  be  in  no  part  o'  my  orders.  Master 
Coffin,  to  take  for  gospel  every  tale  ye  may 
see  fit  to  tell  me,"  replied  Benjamin  Spike, 
with  a  rasp  of  displeasure  in  his  voice.  "  It 
be  for  me  to  sail  this  here  ship,  sir,  an'  for 
you  to  fight  her  if  need  be  — but  never  a 
\.'ord  in  the  orders  as  to  what  yarns  ye  may 
ciioose  to  spin  nor  me  to  believe.    What  I 


iii''r>hltj^^  i  —J 


1 

3 


The  Passenger  and  the  Commander    31 


want  to  know,  young  lady  —  aye,  an'  you  too, 
young  gentlei  ^an  —  be,  what's  become  o'  my 
lawful  passenger,  the  son  o'  Governor  Du- 
waney  o'  Bristol's  Hope  Plantation  in  the 
Newfoundland?  " 

"  This  lady  is  the  worthy  governor's 
daughter,  my  good  Benjamin,"  said  Coffin, 
"and  if  you  will  but  keep  cool  you'll  hear 
everything  to  your  entire  satisfaction." 

**  Yes,  I  will  explain  everything  to  you, 
clear  as  day,  if  you  will  but  listen  to  me,  my 
dear  Master  Spike,"  cried  Elizabeth.    **  You 
see,  it  is  this  way.    My  brother  and  I  are 
twins ;   but  we  are  not  alike  in  our  natures, 
for  he  cares  nought  for  the  sea  and  brave  ad- 
venturing, but  mightily  for  books  of  poetry 
and  the  penning  of  rhymes,  while  I  dote  upon 
seafaring  and  such  things  to  distract  ^'on  but 
take  small  heed  to  poetry  unless  it  be  in  com- 
memoration of  brave  deeds.    So,  dear  Master 
Spike,  we  thought  it  would  be  wiser  —  and 
much  more  agreeable  —  for  Tom  to  remain 
in  Bristol,  with  his  poetic  frenzies,  and  for 
me  to  sail  the  voyage  to  the  Newfoundland. 
To   save  argument,  I  came   into   the  ship 


32  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


<iuietly,  disguised  in  these  garments  which 
belong  to  my  brother,  and  have  remained  in 
my  cabin  until  now." 

**  I  take  it,  mistress,  that  ye  be  a  friend  o' 
Master  Coflin,"  said  Benjamin,  with  a  shrewd 
glance  from  one  to  the  other. 

"  How  say  you?  "  cried  Coffin,  wheeling 
upon  the  master. 

**  I  ax  ye  a  civil  question,  sir.  Be  this 
young  lady  a  friend  o'  yours  or  be  she  not?  " 
returned  Spike,  stolidly. 

The  thin,  shabby  youth  clapped  his  hand 
to  the  iron  hilt  of  his  rapier.  F*  colorless 
eyes  flashed  dangerously  and  his  ,...le  cheeks 
flamed.  In  the  glow  of  his  indignation  he 
looked  imposing. 

**  And  who  are  you,  fellow,  to  make  so  free 
with  your  questions?"  he  cried.  *♦  Know 
you  nothing  of  discipline!  I  pray  you  to 
remember  who  is  military  commander  of  this 
ship." 

"  Keep  your  bilboe  in  its  scabbard  and 
your  temper  under  your  skin,  master," 
warned  the  other,  with  a  ponderous  serenity 
of  manner.    "  Right  well  do  I  remember  the 


I?-  -- 


The  Passenger  and  the  Commauder    33 


military  commander  o'  this  ship,  and  as  well 
do  I  remember  her  master.  Fly  no  flights 
meward,  young  falcon,  or  perchance  ye'll  find 
the  heron  too  heavy  for  ye." 

**  Hush,  hush  I  "  cried  Elizabeth,  grasping 
the  old  mariner  by  the  wrist.  **  You  must 
not  speak  so  to  Master  Coffin  — indeed  you 
must  not.  My  father  would  never  allow  it, 
I  am  sure.  As  for  your  question,  good  Mas- 
ter Spike  —  I,  for  one,  can  see  no  cause  for 
anger  in  it.  But  I  am  not  a  man,  ready  to 
ruffle  at  every  clink  of  the  eye.  Yes,  Mas- 
ter Coffin  and  I  are  friends,  though  we  met 
for  the  first  time  in  this  cabin,  only  a  few 
minutes  ago.  His  family  stands  high  in  my 
father's  regard.  I  know  that  my  father 
would  have  nothing  to  say  against  our  friend- 
ship." 

Coffin  bowed  elaborately  to  the  girl.  Spike 
scratched  his  whiskers,  hemmed  and  hawed, 
and  at  last  said,  **  If  ye '11  both  swear  to  me 
that  you,  young  lady,  be  none  other  than 
Master  Duwaney's  daughter,  an'  that  nought 
of  evil  has  befallen  young  Master  Thomas, 
an'  that  this  mad  fancy  bo  clear  o'  all  manner 


I 

'a 

I. 


'f 


84 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


l\ 


o'  treason  a^aiust  King,  Company  an'  ship, 
master,  captain  or  crew,  an'  that  ye 'II  both 
stand  atween  me  an'  the  governor's  wrath 
when  we  stei)  ashore,  then  I'll  make  no  more 
objection  to  havin'  ye  for  my  honored  pas- 
senger to  the  Newfoundland." 

"  Honestly  said,  and  like  a  true  heart-of- 
oak,"  replied  the  girl.  '*  And  so  I  answer 
you  as  honestly.  Master  Spike.  As  I  fear 
God  and  honor  the  King  I  do  swear  to  you 
that  I  am  the  only  daughter  of  Master 
Thomas  Duwaney,  one  time  an  alderman  of 
Bristol  and  now  governor  of  Bristol's  Hope; 
and  I  also  swear  that,  to  my  best  knowledge 
and  belief,  no  harm  has  come  to  my  brother 
and  that  he  has  remained  at  home  of  his  own 
free  will  and  pleasure.  And  I  promise  to 
stand  between  you  and  my  father's  fleeting 
anger,  so  that  no  harm  may  come  to  you  in 
return  for  your  courtesy." 

"  And  I,"  said  Master  Coffin,  "  do  assure 
you,  on  my  honor  as  a  gentleman  and  a  sol- 
dier, that  every  word  Mistress  Elizabeth  Du- 
waney has  spoken  is  as  true  as  the  Book  of 
Job." 


The  Passenger  and  the  Commander    35 


**  Enough  said,"  replied  Benjamin  Spike. 
"  I  trust  I  have  not  offended  ye,  mistress, 
an*  I  crave  your  pardon  for  any  seeming 
churlishness.  A  shipmaster  must  exercise 
every  caution  for  the  protection  of  his  ship. 
An'  as  for  Master  Coffin,"  he  added,  turning 
upon  that  young  gentleman  with  a  slow  smile, 
**  I  humbly  beg  liirn  to  remember  that  his  old 
shipmate  Ben  Spike  holds  him  in  all  respect 
due  to  his  blood  an'  rank  an'  soHi^rly  re- 
nown an'  would  liefer  lose  his  left  hand  than 
come  to  point-an 'edge  with  him." 

Coffin  clapped  the  old  sea-dog  on  the 
shoulder.  "  Aye,  Benjamin,  that  you  would," 
said  he.  *'  But  your  attitude  of  a  moment 
since  is  already  forgotten.  I  can  well  afford 
to  forget  it.  So  I'll  say  nothing  of  what 
would  most  assuredly  happen  to  you  were 
we  to  come  to  cut-and- thrust.  Enough,  lad! 
I've  soldiered  in  the  Low  Countries,  and 
know  a  trick  or  two  of  which  I'll  say  nothing. 
Out  with  the  best  flask  in  our  stores,  Benja- 
min, and  let  us  pledge  hearts  and  hands  to 
our  fair  and  gracious  passenger." 

"  Aye,   ye   be  in   the   right   o'  the   mat 


)i 


36 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


If     i 

i 


f;  ! 


;l 

U      '. 

'I    i 


i    i 


ter  again,  cap'n,"  replied  Spike,  good-hu- 
moredly. 

A  flask  of  Spanish  wine,  red  as  a  ruby, 
was  produced  from  a  secret  corner  of  the 
locker  under  the  stern  window.  The  wine 
was  i>orred,  and  the  three  ill-assorted  ship- 
mates drank  to  mutual  good-fellowship  and 
a  fair  voyage.  The  beautiful  young  woman, 
aglow  with  health  and  zest  of  life,  and  clothed 
so  riclily  yet  so  grotesquely,  just  touched 
her  lips  to  the  rim  of  the  glass.  Unlike  the 
beauties  of  Whitehall,  she  seldom  drank  even 
so  mild  a  vintage  as  this  red  wine  of  Spain. 
Master  Coffi"  gave  his  glassful  a  shorter 
shift ;  but  he  disposed  of  it  with  such  an  air 
that  the  lady  felt  that  it  was  the  toast  rather 
than  the  flavor  of  the  liquor  that  commended 
the  draught  to  him.  Benjamin  Spike  mum- 
bled something,  tipped  his  head  back  and  the 
wine  down,  and  smacked  his  lips  with  frank 
appreciation.  Master  Coffin  winced  at  such 
an  exhibition  of  low  breeding  in  the  presence 
of  a  lady. 

**  And  now,**  said  Spike,  **  since  friend- 
ship  an'   fair  play   be   drunk   so   sociable 


The  Passenger  and  the  Commander    37 

atween  the  three  o'  us,  an'  I  have  spoke  my 
mind  like  an  honest  shipmaster,  I'll  make  so 
bold  as  to  leave  ye,  mistress,  an'  step  out 
upon  the  deck  to  have  an  eye  to  the  workin' 
o' the  ship." 

And  so  he  went,  highly  pleased  with  him- 
self, and  clapped  his  cap  upon  his  head  be- 
fore he  reached  the  door. 

Later  in  the  day  the  "  Good  Fortune  "  ran 
into  dirty  weather ;  and  for  three  days  after 
that  neither  the  military  commander  nor  the 
master  saw  anything  of  Mistress  Elizabeth 
Duwaney.  But  on  the  morning  of  the  fourth 
day  she  appeared  again,  pale  but  smiling  and 
courageous,  her  eyes  brighter  than  ever,  and 
wearing  her  own  clothes.  She  had  been 
charming  before,  in  spite  of  her  unsuitable 
attire ;  but  now  her  beauty  and  grace  struck 
old  Spike  to  a  gaping  dumbness  and  brought 
a  flush  of  red  to  Master  Coffin's  cheeks. 
Elizabeth  saw  and  instinctively  understood 
the  effect  of  her  appearance  on  the  two  men ; 
but  she  only  smiled  the  more  pleasantly 
(though  she  felt  weak  and  dizzy,  and  far 
more  like  crying  than  smiling),  and  took  her 


38 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


seat  at  the  cabin  table  with  a  matter-of-fact 
air. 

"  I  trust  that  the  French  cordial  I  sent 
you  by  my  man  James  was  to  your  taste,  my 
dear  lady,"  said  CoflRn. 

"An'  the  rum  I  sent  ye  by  the  cook's  boy, 
mistress,"  said  Spike,  anxious  not  to  be  out- 
done by  the  gentleman.  **  I  hear  that  there 
be  nought  like  it  for  the  settling  o'  a  delicate 
stomach." 

Coffin  glared  at  the  shipmaster  and  trod 
heavily  on  his  toe  under  cover  of  the  table. 

**  What  now,  master?  "  cried  Spike. 
"  Why  do  ye  grind  your  heel  into  my  toe 
as  if  it  was  the  flank  o'  a  charger?  " 

Coffin  ignored  him  and  turned  to  the  lady 
in  renewed  confusion, 

"  The  cordial,"  he  said,  "  was  recom- 
mended to  me  by  no  less  a  personage  than 
that  great  and  unfortunate  admiral,  Sir  Wal- 
ter Raleigh  — God  rest  his  soul." 

By  this  time  the  lady  was  hungrily  munch- 
ing a  ship's  biscuit. 

"  They  were  both  very  good,  I  do  not 
doubt,"  she  said.    *♦  But  I  did  not  feel  equal 


The  Passenger  and  the  Commander    39 


to  them;  and  what  became  of  them  I  am  at 
a  loss  to  say.  You  must  forgive  me,  ship- 
mates. If  your  messengers  had  brought  me 
measures  running  over  with  diamonds  and 
rubies,  instead  of  with  cordial  and  rum,  I 
should  not  have  so  much  as  lifted  my  head 
from  the  pillow  to  take  note  of  them.  But 
now  the  trouble  is  past.  This  biscuit  is  won- 
derfully hard  but  of  excellent  flavor." 

**  Ye  be  a  brave  lass,"  said  the  old  ship- 
master, with  frank  admiration  in  face  and 
voice.  Master  Coffin  said  nothing,  for  he 
was  so  deeply  moved  by  pity  and  other  dis- 
turbing emotions  that  he  could  not  lay  his 
tongue  to  a  word. 

By  this  time,  news  of  the  lady's  presence 
aboard  was  common  throughout  the  ship. 
Every  one  was  delighted  with  the  knowledge 
that  the  "  Good  Fortune  "  carried  a  charm- 
ing young  lady,  and  '''  daughter  of  the  gov- 
ernor of  Bristol's  for  passenger,  feel- 
ing that  it  would  bi  .,  jood  luck  to  the  ship. 
The  story  of  her  arrival  in  her  brother's 
stead  and  also  in  his  clothes  quickly  went 
the  rounds;    and  she  immediately  became 


40 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


11    )  ( 


a  heroine  to  the  rough  and  honest  fellows. 
Nothing  was  so  worshipped  by  the  Brit- 
ish seaman  of  those  days  as  pluck.  And 
that  the  lady  was  beautiful,  too,  appealed  to 
every  man-jack  of  them.  Sea-chests  were 
dipped  into  by  tarry  hands,  and  every  odd 
and  end  of  finery  in  possession  of  the  crew 
was  brought  into  every-day  use.  This  brisk- 
ing-up  process  made  some  of  the  men  look 
more  like  pirates  than  honest  Bristol  mari- 
ners. Master  Coffin  donned  a  plum-colored 
doublet  with  rusty  gold  lace  at  collar  and 
cuffs,  and  old  Spike  trimmed  his  tempest- 
tangled  beard  and  curled  his  mustaches  into 
his  eyes  after  the  manner  then  coming  into 
vogue  among  military  gentlemen  who  had 
seen  service  abroad. 

For  ten  days  from  the  lady's  reappear- 
ance from  her  cabin  the  ship  sailed  westward 
undisturbed  and  the  weather  held  fair.  All 
went  merrily,  aloft  and  alow.  Elizabeth 
spent  most  of  her  time  on  the  high  poop- 
deck,  and  in  the  bluster  of  salty  winds  and 
glinting  sunshine  soon  regained  her  natural 
gaiety  of  temper.    The  color  and  roundness 


■^nm 


mmn 


mmm 


The  Passenger  and  the  Commander    41 

came  back  to  her  cheeks  —  and  the  memory 
of  those  three  painful  days  grew  faint  as  a 
dream.  She  was  in  love  with  seafaring,  and 
vowed  that  there  was  not  a  house  ashore 
that  she  would  not  blithely  forsake  for  the 
narrow  deck  of  the  *'  Good  Fortune."  Spike 
was  tremendously  flattered  by  all  this;  but 
Master  Coflfin,  though  rejoicing  in  her  friend- 
ship and  nursing  a  grand  passion  in  his  heart 
f 0 ^  her,  felt  that  she  was  soM.ething  too  par- 
tial to  sailoring.  So  he  would  spend  hours 
in  telling  her  of  the  glorious  opportunities 
for  valor  to  be  found  in  a  soldier's  life. 
Sometimes  they  argued.  Elizabeth  main- 
tained that  a  sailor's  life  was  fundamentally 
for  good,  though  misfortune  and  chance 
might  force  him  to  bloodshed  upon  occasion; 
but  that  the  career  of  a  soldier  depended  for 
its  very  existence  upon  death  and  tyranny. 
She  spoke  of  the  discoveries  of  new  lands, 
of  new  races  and  of  new  enterprises  that  had 
been  accomplished  in  the  past  and  were  still 
being  accomplished  by  seafarers.  She  named 
some  great  names  in  this  connection.  But 
though  Master  Coffin  worshipped  the  lady 


42 


r 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


i  I 


4    I 

1    ■ 


;T  f 


he  could  see  very  little  merit  in  her  argu- 
ment; and  he  was  far  too  honest  to  pretend 
a  conversion  of  opinion  that  he  did  not  feel. 
So  he  talked  back,  upholding  the  honor  of 
the  man  of  the  sword  desperately.  Beaten 
at  every  point  —  for  how  could  the  poor  fel- 
low prove  that  it  is  a  finer  thing  to  kill  men 
than  to  carry  food  and  civilization  across 
thousands  of  miles  of  trackless  tide  —  he  was 
once  driven  to  such  an  extremity  as  to  call 
the  girl's  attention  to  the  fact  that,  as  proved 
by  his  own  presence  aboard  the  **  Good  For- 
tune," sailors  were  sometimes  glad  to  make 
use  of  military  men.  At  that  she  had  ad- 
mitted, very  gently,  that  she  had  nothing  to 
say  against  soldiers  individually  —  at  least 
against  none  that  she  knew  at  all  intimately 
—  and  that  she,  for  one,  felt  very  glad  of 
Master  Coflfin's  protecting  presence  aboard 
the  *'  Good  Fortune."  As  this  was  said 
without  irony  he  had  felt  ashamed  of  his 
big  talk. 

In  spite  of  these  arguments,  Mistress  Du- 
waney's  admiration  for  Master  Coffin  grew 
day  by  day.     There  was  something  heroic 


tmm 


The  Passenger  and  the  Commander    43 

even  in  his  feeblest  argument  —  a  nobility  of 
attitude,  a  fine  loyalty  to  a  wobbly  god,  a 
heart  that  saw  valor,  fortitude  and  victory 
and  looked  too  high  to  notice  the  huddled 
shapes  on  the  ground  or  to  suspect  the  sordid 
motives  behind  the  massing  of  the  armies. 
She  saw  his  bravery  and  his  simplicity  as 
plain  as  pictures  in  a  book.  She  knew  that 
he  was  one  who  would  die  for  a  friend  or 
a  cause  without  asking  himself  if  the  friend 
or  the  cause  were  worth  the  loss  of  his  life. 
Reposed  in  so  frail  and  pathetic  a  body  as 
Master  Coffin  *s,  these  heroic  qualities  seemed 
the  more  remarkable  in  her  eyes.  So  the 
friendship  of  these  two  was  quick  and  true, 
conceived  in  mutual  admiration  and  respect 
and  so  safe  from  disaster  from  whim,  vanity 
or  misunderstanding. 

It  was  not  until  the  ship  had  been  at  sea 
a  matter  of  fourteen  days,  however,  that  the 
young  man  told  the  girl  the  story  of  his  mis- 
fortunes. But  let  it  be  said  to  his  credit  that 
he  showed  io  eagerness  to  tell  it  and  that  his 
narrative  was  of  a  commendable  brevity. 
Though  an  unadorned  statement  of  facts  it 


m 


44 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


ill 


lost  nothing  of  its  pathetic  quality  and  af- 
fected Elizabeth  keenly. 

The  second  son  of  a  gentleman  of  ancient 
holdings  but  reduced  fortune,  Harold  Coffin 
had  suffered  the  desolation  of  orphanage 
while  still  a  child  at  school.  After  the  death 
of  his  father  and  the  settling  of  the  estate, 
there  was  found  to  be  nothing  at  home  for 
Master  Harold ;  so  an  uncle,  a  brother  of  his 
mother  and  a  childless  man,  had  taken  charge 
of  him.  It  was  an  open  secret  that  the 
uncle's  intentions  toward  the  child  were  of 
the  most  generous  nature  —  that  he  meant  to 
a'^opt  him  as  his  son  and  heir  as  soon  as  a 
fuller  knowledge  of  his  character  and  nature 
should  warrant  his  doing  so;  and  that,  in 
any  case,  a  liberal  education  and  a  fair  start 
in  life  were  to  be  his  portion.  There  was 
justice  in  this,  for  the  uncle's  only  near  rela- 
tives of  his  own  blood  were  his  dead  sister's 
children.  But  this  Uncle  Hawley  had  a  wife 
—  and  the  wife,  who  had  been  married  be- 
fore, had  a  son  named  Peter  Hard.  And 
though  this  Peter  Hard  was  well  established 
in  life  with  property  of  his  own,  both  he  and 


tmm 


MMi 


The  Passenger  and  the  Commander    45 


his  motlier  had  their  hearts  and  eyes  cov- 
ertly set  on  such  of  the  Hawley  possessions 
as  were  intended  for  Harold.    This  matter 
soon  hecame  apparent  to  the  orphan,  though 
it  was  kept  hidden  from  Hawley,  who  was 
slow  to  see  things  that  were  not  flaunted  in 
his  face  and  whose  mind  was  of  an  unsus- 
picious cast.    Harold  was  sent  to  a  very  good 
school  near  his  new  home ;   and  things  went 
well  enough  with  him  so  long  as  his  school- 
time  lasted.     On  his   seventeenth  birthday 
Hawley  asked  him  his  choice  of  a  career, 
saying  that  a  young  man  should  have  a  defi- 
nite object  in  life  no  matter  what  his  pros- 
pects.   Harold  Coffin  chose  the  army  without 
a  moment's  hesitation ;  and  within  the  month 
he  was  gazetted  to  a  regiment  of  the  line  that 
was  stationed  in  London  — a  regiment  of 
that  new  and  swiftly  growing  regular  or 
standing  army  that  the  people  looked  upon 
with  distrust.    Harold  went  to  London,  his 
heart  beating  high  with  hope  — and  there 
was  Master  Peter  Hard,  living  the  life  of  a 
fashionable  dandy  and  eager  to  take  Harold 
under  his  wing  and  show  him  the  town.    The 


I   I 


46 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


young  ensign's  military  duties  were  not  ar- 
duous and  he  had  plenty  of  time  to  devote 
to  pleasure  and  the  company  of  Peter  and 
his  friends.  And  Peter  Hard  made  himself 
very  agreeable  to  the  boy.  His  pockets  were 
full  of  money.  He  was  always  delighted  to 
lend  to  Harold,  whose  allowance  from  his 
uncle  was  no  more  than  reasonable.  With 
gold  always  at  his  command,  Harold  quite 
lost  his  head  for  a  time.  Along  with  Peter 
and  a  set  of  brisk  companions  he  frequented 
the  ordinaries  and  gaming-houses,  dicing  and 
playing  with  industry  but  ill  fortune.  The 
end  came  swiftly.  Peter,  the  false  friend, 
had  done  his  work  well.  A  letter  from  his 
uncle  brought  the  house  of  cards  tumbling 
about  Harold's  ears.  He  was  disowned,  cast 
out.  He  resigned  his  commission  and  be- 
came a  soldier  of  misfortune.  He  fought  in 
the  Low  Countries.  For  seven  years  he  had 
been  a  homeless  fellow,  selling  his  sword  and 
wandering,  unbefriended. 


a\U 


CHAPTER   IV 


A  DISTURBER   OF   THE   SEA 

Having  explained  his  misfortunes  to  a 
sympathetic  listener,  Master  Coffin  felt 
greatly  cheered.  He  confessed  to  the  girl 
that,  within  the  last  week  or  two,  life  had 
turned  a  more  hopeful  face  to  him.  "  For 
I  must  be  worth  something,"  he  said,  *'  to 
have  won  your  sweet  friendship."  He  ex- 
plained to  her  that  this  was  his  second  voy- 
age with  Spike;  but  that  he  hoped  to  sail 
soon  to  the  West  Indies,  in  a  privateer,  and 
there  take  toll  of  the  spoilers  of  those  rich 
seas,  at  one  and  the  same  time  dealing  justice 
out  to  pirates  and  amassing  a  modest  for- 
tune for  himself.  And  perhaps,  some  day, 
he  would  buy  an  estate  in  the  island  of  Bar- 
badoes  and  with  plow  and  cane-knife  increase 
the  winnings  of  his  sword. 

One  bright  morning  a  sail  appeared  to 
windward  of  the  "  Good  Fortune  "  and  grew 

47 


48 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


swiftly  from  a  flake  of  gray  to  i  tov  f^r  of 
white.  Master  Spike  soon  boffan  to  show 
signs  of  anxiety  and  turned  his  telescope 
upon  it  several  times  in  every  miniUi'  Al 
last  he  came  to  Master  Coffin,  who  was  on 
the  poop  with  Mistress  Duwaney,  and  ''>  ggei 
for  a  private  word  with  him  in  the  abiU. 
The  two  went  below,  leaving  the  girl  to  v  atch 
the  distant  sail  without  suspicion. 

**  It  be  no  fish-ship,"  said  Spike,  "  nor  yet 
of  the  cut  o'  any  carrier  I  ever  see  in  these 
waters.  I  take  her  to  be  a  tall  ship  o*  five 
hundred  tons  or  thereabouts,  an'  English 
built." 

*'  Name  it,  shipmate.  What  do  you 
fear?  "  said  Coffin,  c^Unily. 

"  Something  too  big  for  us  to  handle  — 
that  be  what  I  fear,"  replied  Spike. 

**  An  English  pirate,"  suggested  the  other. 

**  We  miglit  stand  a  v^  ate  off,  for  they 
be  light-timbered  an'  light-metalled  in  these 
parts;  but  this  here  looks  to  me  as  if  she 
might  prove  to  ^d  the  ship  o'  one  o'  Raleigh's 
captain  \  *  replied  the  mariner.  "  They  do 
say  a    f    w  they  hunt  the  seas  like  wolves. 


.A-lSBSfl 


A  Disturber  of  the  Sea 


40 


since  the  adinirarH  misfortu?  -,  caring^  noujrht 
for  any  kiiiir  or  any  law,  .  roady  to  haul 
alonpsule  o'  any  craft  that  i«)ats,  \h>  npb  itr 
mercha   tiuan  or  ship  o'-wa;'." 

"  Nor  iio  I  blanio  them."  said  CoH  a. 
•*  They  show  a  luyal  aiifl  noble  spirit  m  f  >t- 
tinr  thoraseives  a«rains'  the  ;<ing  -  d  the 
country  who  inu'-ierAd  thtir  uoble  ca|   .lin 

•    Thih  soi.uds  like  treasori,  ih  'ster,     wh 
pered  Hpike,  uneasily. 

"  Nay,  you  need  ha-e  ^  <»  fee  of  •  it," 
ref'iied  the  other.  '*  R  <'ig.  wa  nevt  p- 
tain  of  mine,  and  <o  1  n  w  u  ^  nv  But 
I  tell  yoi  Ben  imm.  that  ha<i  I  e\-  'iled 
under  that  grcaJ;  knii/nt  T  sh.  iild  no\^  )e  risk- 
ing my  neuk  as  eageriy  as  w  of  th(  heroes 
in  strikinsr  a   i)iow   or  two  in  h  mory. 

But  my  senti  lents  will  not  h-  s  in     as 

case,  I  fear.      V^hat  do  yon  sugge    f  " 

"  We  aust  even  b^r  onrselve-^  as  honest 
English  sea-  U  rd  hese  ireebooters, 
whoev'  they  "  sai  the  uld  man,  vaguely. 
**  Bravely  sa=  ?  r>T  jamir  but  what  the 
devil  oes  it  n  can?  "  r  i^iu  d  Coffin. 
"  Hone       English    seamen    have    so    many 


MM* 


Am^amtttmA 


«tt 


50 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


ways  of  bearing  themselves  that  I  must  con- 
fess that  I  am  still  in  doubt  as  to  your  in- 
tentions." 

**  This  be  no  time  for  playin'  with  words 
an'  twists  o'  speech,"  remarked  Spike,  se- 
verely. *'  We  must  make  ready  to  give  bat- 
tle to  the  stranger  should  she  force  us  to  it. 
If  she  be  the  ship  o'  one  o'  they  erring  cap- 
tains she  may  do  us  no  harm  beyond  helping 
herself  to  wine  and  dainties  from  our  laza- 
ret—  if  to  another  o'  these  same  gentry  we 
may  be  swinging  from  our  o%vn  yard-arm 
afore  sundown,  or  walking  the  plank.  I  have 
heard  that  several  o'  these  treasonous  gen- 
tlemen are  no  nicer  in  their  habits  nor  more 
merciful  in  their  actions  than  the  bloodiest 
Sally  Rover  afloat.  So  we  must  stand  ready 
for  her  —  ready  of  hand  and  wit  —  ready 
to  fight  to  the  death  or  make  a  gift  of  wines 
and  spices,  according  to  what  the  signs  may 
be  as  to  which  way  the  cat  be  going  to 
jump." 

**  Then  I'll  see  to  the  clearing  and  man- 
ning of  the  great  guns  and  the  arming  of  the 
fellows,"  said  Coffin.    "  But  I  tell  you,  lad, 


He 


ii. 


A  Disturber  of  the  Sea 


51 


that  if  the  stranger  is  commanded  by  one  of 
Raleigh's  captains  we'll  come  by  no  injury." 

•'  Be  not  too  sure  o'  that,  master,"  replied 
the  old  seaman,  smiling  gloomily.  **  Many 
a  ship  has  been  sunk  and  many  a  throi  •■.  has 
been  slit  by  them  that  was  gentle  born." 

"  But  we  have  a  lady  aboard,"  returned 
Coffin.  *'  No  officer  of  Sir  Walter's,  no  mat- 
ter how  low  he  may  have  fallen  since  the 
knight's  death,  would  do  any  injury  to  a 
lady  for  all  the  gold  of  the  Indies." 

*'  God  grant  you  may  be  right,"  said  the 
shipmaster. 

Before  seeing  to  the  preparation  of  the 
cannon,  falcons  and  falconets,  or  to  the  arm- 
ing of  the  ship's  company.  Coffin  went  to 
where  Elizabeth  still  stood  on  the  poop  gaz- 
ing in  the  direction  of  the  approaching  ves- 
sel. 

"  What  is  it?  "  she  asked.  "  She  hoiJs 
on  a  course  that  brings  her  steadily  upon 


us 


>» 


Without  preamble,  he  told  her  Spike  *8 
fears  of  the  nature  and  intentions  of  the 
strange  vessel.    The  color  left  her  cheeks  but 


^.1^^ 


■luiBtii 


52 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


K   .  i 


!       "1 


'\ 


i : 


her  eyes  did  not  flinch.  Then  he  reassured 
her  with  his  own  opinion  of  what  they  had 
to  fear  from  the  big  ship.  **  At  the  very 
worst,"  he  said,  '*  we'll  have  to  part  with  a 
little  of  our  cabin-stores,  and  smile  about  it 
as  if  the  presenting  of  a  gift  of  wine  and 
gimcracks  was  our  own  idea.  I  am  ready  to 
pledge  my  word  that  nothing  more  serious 
than  this  will  come  of  the  approaching  en- 
counter. Even  I  can  see  at  a  glance  that  she 
is  not  an  ordinary  pirate  ship  —  so  we  may 
safely  take  her  to  be  the  vessel  of  one  of  these 
erring  captains.  With  you  aboard,  r  ^-^dame, 
we  have  nothing  to  fear  from  a  gentleman, 
no  matter  how  desperate  his  condition." 

'*  All  men  of  gentle  birth  may  not  bear 
measuring  by  your  standards,  Master  Cof- 
fin," said  Elizabeth  with  a  wan  smile.  Of 
course  she  did  not  feel  at  all  like  smiling; 
but  she  was  determined  that  the  cool  and 
fragile  young  man  at  her  side  should  not 
discover  that  she  was  afraid.  This  meeting 
with  ships  of  doubtful  intentions  was  an 
experience  of  seafaring  thnt  she  had  not 
counted  upon.    She  had  heard  many  tales  of 


■■ 


A  Disturber  of  the  Sea 


58 


pirates  and  their  deeds,  but  they  had  all 
sounded  like  fiction  to  her.  She  had  never 
suspected  that  a  vessel  that  was  in  any  way 
connected  with  so  solid  and  well-regulated 
a  man  as  her  honored  father  could  possibly 
be  molested  either  on  the  high  seas  or  in  any 
harbor. 

'*  Let  us  trust  that  the  gentleman  may 
prove  to  be  as  polite  as  you  anticipate,*'  she 
said,  quite  steadily. 

**  Have  no  fear,  my  friend,"  replied  Cof- 
fin, looking  at  her  for  a  moment  with  that 
in  his  eyes  which  he  had  hitherto  man- 
aged to  keep  hidden.  After  a  moment  their 
glances  wavered. 

**  I  must  go  throu^  the  formality  of  pre- 
paring the  ship  for  action,"  continued  the 
young  man.  **  Whatever  the  intentions  of 
that  vessel,  we  must  not  be  caught  napping. 
If  there  should  happen  to  be  any  gun-play 
—  just  by  way  of  an  exchange  of  compli- 
ments —  I  shall  come  to  you  and  lead  you  to 
a  safer  place  than  this.  But  have  no  uneasi- 
ness. Should  it  come  tc  '  »  attle  —  though 
I  can  see  no  chance  of  v  ■—  i  give  you  my 


54 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


word  of  honor  that  I'll  raako  a  drifting  wreck 
of  that  tall  ship.'* 

With  that,  Master  Coffin  passed  forward 
to  attend  to  his  work  as  military  commander 
of  the  "  Good  Fortmie."  He  had  meant 
every  word  of  his  assurances  and  boastings 
to  the  lady.  Poor  and  frail  though  he  was, 
his  heart  was  bigger  and  braver  than  most 
men's.  Also,  he  was  young  and  in  love.  He 
felt  that  if  circumstances  called  for  a  fi^ht, 
in  her  protection  he  would  be  strong  enough 
and  skilful  enough  to  administer  a  drubbing 
to  the  other  ship,  no  matter  what  her  weight 
of  timber  and  metal,  no  matter  how  expert 
her  gunners  '^r  how  determined  her  com- 
mander. 

The  course  of  the  "  Good  Fortune  "  was 
changed,  and  she  ran  fairly  away  from  the 
craft  that  was  so  unmistakably  interested  in 
her.  Strongly  as  she  forged  along,  however, 
the  larger  and  taller  ship  overhauled  her 
steadily.  All  the  great  guns  aboard  the 
**  Good  Fortune  "  were  loaded  with  round- 
shot.  Cutlasses  and  pistols  were  unlocked 
from  their  racks  and  dealt  out  to  the  men. 


!t^i 


mHn 


mutm 


A  Disturber  of  the  Sea 


55 


The  red  ensign  of  England  and  the  blue  and 
white  flag  of  the  Company  of  Western  Ad- 
venturers and  Planters  were  run  up  to  the 
"  Good  Fortune's  "  tops.  In  reply,  a  square 
of  bright  bunting  flashed  above  the  rounded 
sails  of  the  pursuer. 

**  What  make  ye  of  that?  "  inquired  Spike 
of  the  commander. 

Coffin  studied  the  bunting  through  the 
master's  telescope. 

"It  is  Raleigh's  flag,'*  he  said.  "We 
have  nought  to  fear." 

Even  as  he  spoke,  a  white  roll  of  mist 
hid  the  port  bow  of  the  stranger,  a  dull, 
thumping  noise  assailed  his  ears  and  a 
round-shot  dropped  into  the  sea  about  fifty 
yards  astern  of  the  "  Good  Fortune."  In  si- 
lence, the  mist  of  smoke  spread  and  dissolved 
in  the  wind  and  sunshine. 

**  There  goes  your  fine  gentleman  ashowin' 
us  his  lamb-like  manners,"  remarked  Spike, 
unpleasantly.  **  I  never  see  a  bloodthirsty 
pirate  pop  out  his  compliments  any  quicker 
than  that." 

**  I  still  maintain  that  we  are  in  no  danger 


56 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


:s    f 


11 


It 
li 


;pi: 

:  .(■ 
•I'l 


of  anything  worse  than  a  brief  delay  in  our 
journey,"  replied  Master  Coffin,  nettled  by 
both  the  unexpected  round-shot  and  the  old 
sea-dog's  manner.  **  I  still  maintain  that 
we  have  no  villainy  to  fear  if  yonder  sails 
one  of  the  dead  knight's  captains,  as  we  both 
believe.  Rest  assured,  worthy  Benjamin, 
that  when  he  learns  of  the  presence  of  a 
lady  aboard  this  craft  he'll  let  us  go  on  our 
way  without  so  much  as  a  scratch.  I  speak 
with  authority,  Benjamin,  knowing  well  the 
spirit  of  such  gentlemen  as  Sir  Walter  Ra- 
leigh was  in  the  habit  of  drawing  to  his 
service." 

"  Ye  may  be  right,  master.  Aye,  ye  may 
be  in  the  right  o'  the  matter  —  but  I'll  be 
danged  if  I  think  so,"  said  Spike,  turning  on 
his  heel  and  hastening  forward  to  speak  to 
his  mate. 

Master  Coffin  hurried  to  Elizabeth  and 
begged  her  to  descend  to  the  cabin  for  a 
little  while. 

**  It  is  possible  that  they  may  fire  a  few 
more  shots  before  we  have  an  opportunity  to 
make  known  our  position,"  he  explained. 


A  Disturber  of  the  Sc:: 


57 


**  And  as  a  chance  shot  might  bring  down 
some  of  our  spars,  you  will  be  safer  in  the 
cabin  than  on  deck." 

"I  — I  am  not  afraid,'*  said  the  girl, 
faintly. 

"  But  you  must  consider  our  feelings," 
said  the  young  soldier,  gently,  at  the  same 
time  offering  her  his  arm  and  glancing 
swiftly  into  the  troubled  depths  of  her  bright 
eyes.  She  took  his  arm  and  descended  to 
the  waist  of  the  ship  and  entered  the  cabin 
without  a  word  of  protest. 

The  vessel  that  flew  the  flag  of  the  dead 
knight  continued  to  draw  down  upon  the 
smaller  ship.  Soon  she  was  well  within  gun- 
range;  but  fortunately  for  all  concerned, 
she  refrained  from  trjang  another  shot  at 
the  pitching  stern  of  the  **  Good  Fortune." 
It  was  evidently  the  intention  of  this  erring 
cap+ain  to  deal  lightly  with  the  merchant- 
man and,  nt  the  same  time,  save  his  ship  and 
his  powder.  Perhaps?  he  wanted  nothing 
more  thaii  a  few  flagons  of  spirits  and  a  few 
bags  of  ship's-bread.  Even  old  Spike  began 
to  take  heart  at  his  forbearance. 


58 


'I  i 


11!  ii 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


Now  the  heads  and  shoulders  of  several 
men  could  be  seen  in  the  bows  of  the  pur- 
suing ship,  like  painted  toys  under  the  high- 
pitched  bowsprit  and  square,  full-bellied 
head-sails.  She  was  an  inspiring  sight  with 
her  climbing  canvas  swaying  against  the 
blue  and  the  froth  of  torn  waves  boiling 
white  under  her  leaping  stem.  Indeed  she 
had  more  the  air  of  a  king's  ship  than  a  free- 
booter of  the  sea.  The  crew  of  the  "  Good 
For*  e  **  gazed  at  her  with  open  admira- 
tioiL 


h\ 


ifi.. 


1  f  * 


ii't 


CHAPTER  V 


MASTEB  COFFIN  DISCOVERS  AN  OLD  FBIEND 


Master  Coffin  put  a  speakmg-trnmpet  to 
his  lips  and  hailed  the  pursuing  ship  from 
the  stem  of  the  **  Good  Fortune.'*  Hia  voice 
carried  clear  above  the  slobbering  of  the  seas 
against  the  speeding  hulls  and  the  working 
of  yard  and  cordage.  He  named  his  ship, 
her  home  port  and  destination,  himself  as 
her  commander  and  Spike  as  her  master. 
The  reply  soon  came  to  him  across  the  nar- 
row strip  of  lively  water.  "  This  ship  is 
the  **  Jaguar,"  from  the  port  she  last  left 
and  bound  for  wherever  she  pleases.  She 
is  commanded  by  Captain  John  Percy.** 

Coffin's  face  brightened  at  that  name. 
Again  he  raised  the  great  trumpet  to  his  lips. 
"  Dr.  Captain  Percy  remember  his  Christ- 
mas d,  ^ner  of  two  years  ago?  **  he  cried. 

*'  Yes,'*  came  the  answer. 

«0 


eo 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


I  » 


'i! 


;|.| 


*'  The  roasted  horse-flesh,  the  raouldy 
beans  and  the  flask  of  stolen  wine?  " 

"  Yes,  yes!  " 

"  And  the  figlit  next  morning  between  the 
big  Dutchman  and  the  thin  Englishman? 
And  the  Dutchman's  funeral?  '* 

**  He  remembers  it  all." 

**  'Tis  the  thin  Englishman  that  speaks  — 
Harold  Coffin.  Come  aboard,  Captain  Percy, 
for  old  sake's  sake.  There  will  be  no  need 
of  drinking  stolen  wme  to-day." 

**  With  pleasure,  comrade.  Come  into  the 
wind  and  I'll  pnll  over  to  you." 

A  few  minutes  later  the  two  vessels  were 
rocking  idly  on  the  brisk  seas.  A  boat  was 
lowered  from  the  "  Jaguar  "  and  smartly 
pulled  away  for  the  "  Good  Fortune."  Six 
seamen  sat  to  the  oars  and  three  gentlemen, 
in  long  cloaks  and  wide  hats,  occupied  the 
stem-sheets.  Soon  the  boat  was  alongside 
and  a  Jacob's  ladder  lowered  to  her.  One  by 
one  the  gentlemen  ascended  the  swaying  lad- 
der to  the  waist  of  the  '*  Good  Fortune." 
Captain  Percy  was  the  first  to  reach  the  deck. 
Master  Coffin  was  on  tlie  spot  to  welcome 


An  Old  Friend 


61 


him,  and  the  two  embraced  cordially  like  old 
messmates. 

**  How  now,  comrade!"  exclaimed  the 
visitor.  "  Little  did  I  think  to  find  the  fire- 
eater  of  Bragg's  Brigade  bouncing  across 
the  western  ocean  in  the  round  belly  of  a 
merchantman. ' ' 

"  And  little  did  I  expect  to  have  a  round- 
shot  pitched  after  me  by  John  Percy,  captain 
of  hussars,"  replied  Coffin. 

The  smile  left  Percj^'s  face.  "  Much  wine 
has  been  drunk  since  then,"  he  said,  gravely; 
"  aye,  and  much  blood  spilt.  One  is  for- 
tunate to  meet  a  friend  at  all,  no  matter 
under  what  unusual  circumstances.  Since 
our  last  meeting,  comrade,  I  have  lost  the 
best  friend  mortnl  man  ever  had." 

At  that  moment  the  second  of  the  visitors 
arrived  over  the  side.  Percy  presented  him 
to  Coffin  as  Master  Horace  Down,  another 
of  Raleigh's  gentlemen.  Next  moment,  the 
third  visitor  leapt  to  the  deck.  **  Master  de 
Verney  —  another  of  the  masterless  men," 
said  Captain  Percy.  Coffin  welcomed  them 
both  with  every  indication  of  sincere  cor- 


62 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


1^1 


H 


ill!' 


:i' 


[I 


diality  and  friendship.  In  fact  he  was  over- 
joyed, what  with  the  vanishing  of  thicatened 
danger  and  the  sight  of  three  men  of  his  own 
class  and  kind. 

•'  Let  your  lellows  ascend  and  go  forward. 
They  shall  be  well  cared  for,  I  promise  you," 
he  said  to  Captain  Percy. 

Percy  leaned  over  the  bulwarks  and 
shouted  the  word  down  to  the  men  in  the 
pitching  boat.  Then  Harold  C'oflfin  took  him 
by  the  arm.  **  Gentlemen,"  said  he,  looking 
first  at  Percy  and  then  at  the  others,  '*  we 
have  a  passenger  aboard  —  Mistress  Eliza- 
beth Duwaney,  the  daughter  of  the  governor 
of  Bristol's  Hope  plantation." 

**  Thunder  and  shot!  "  exclaimed  de  Ver- 
ney,  shaking  the  wrinkles  out  of  his  cloak 
of  fine  blue  cloth. 

**  By  Heaven!  "  cried  Master  Down.  "  I 
wear  my  oldest  doublet!  " 

"  Now  I  understand  why  the  fire-eater  has 
undertaken  so  dull  an  expedition,"  remarked 
Percy. 

**  You  are  mistaken,"  said  Coffin,  flushing. 
**  This  is  my  second  voyage  as  military  com- 


An  Old  Friend 


iiS 


rnnnder  of  the  *'  Good  Fortune."  I  had  no 
knowledge,  before  embarking,  that  we  were 
to  carry  a  passenger  on  this  trip." 

'*  I  understand,  comrade.  Had  you  pos- 
sessed the  knowledge  you  would  have  found 
another  command,  the  lady  being  iii  fa- 
vored." 

*'  You  are  as  sharp  as  ever,  captain.    Or 
can  hide  nothing  from  you,"  returned  Har- 
old Coffin,  smiling  quietly. 

*•  So  this  lady  is  old  and  ill-favored,  is 
she!  "  remarked  Master  Down,  disconso- 
lately. **  Then  perhaps  it  had  been  better 
for  all  of  us  if  we  had  sent  a  few  more  i  j  iud- 
shot  after  the  first." 

**  You  are  mistaken,  1  assure  you,"  aaid 
Coffin,  gazing  fixedly  at  Master  Down. 
'*  Whatever  a  lady's  age  or  aj  pea  ranee,  she 
must  be  treated  with  every  mark  of  respect 
and  consideration  so  long  as  she  occupies  my 
ship.  Had  other  round-shots  followed  that 
first  I  should  have  believed  that  T  had  a  com- 
mon pirate  to  deal  with  —  and  so  I  should 
have  dealt  with  him.  Now  I  trust  your 
understanding  is  clearer,  sir.** 


•m     Bn 


Mta 


64 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


ill « 


j;j 
1 


,t: 


"  And  I  hope  so,  too,  Horace,"  said  Cap- 
tain Percy,  frowning  at  the  offender.  "  xVnd 
let  me  warn  you,  lad,  that  I  have  seen  this 
gentleman,  our  host,  dispatch  a  gigantic 
Dutch  bully  before  breakfast  without  so 
much  as  laying  aside  his  cloaK." 

Down  and  de  Verney  gazed  at  Master  Cof- 
fin in  open  astonishment. 

"  To  the  cabin,  gentlemen,"  cried  the  com- 
mander of  the  **  Good  P'ortune,"  leading  the 
way  with  his  hat  in  his  hand. 

The  cabin  was  ill-lit,  having  no  skylight. 
The  three  visitors  followed  Coffin  witiiin  and 
stood  blinking.  Elizabeth  stood  with  her 
back  to  the  window  and  her  face  in  shadow. 
She  guessed  that  these  strangers  were  of  the 
class  of  men  —  gentlemen-rovers  of  the  sea 
—  of  which  Harold  had  told  her.  So  the 
sight  of  them  relieved  her  fears  vastly.  This 
polite  visit,  hat  in  hand,  could  mean  noth- 
ing but  that  all  danger  of  hostilities  was 
past. 

*'  Madame,"  said  Master  Coffin,  *'  T  beg 
to  present  to  you  the  commander  of  the  good 
ship  '  Jaguar,*  Captain  John  Percy,  and  two 


r  1 


^^_ 


An  Old  Friend 


es 


of  his  comrades.  They  have  come  aboard 
to  pay  their  respects  to  the  daughter  of  Gov- 
ernor  Duwaney  —  and  Captain  Percy  is  kind 
enough  to  wish  to  renew  old  acquaintance- 
ship with  me,  for  we  oncft  served  together  in 
the  Low  Countries." 

The  gentlemen  bowed  profoundly  and  the 
lady  curtsied 

"  Come  to  the  table,  gentlemen.  Madame, 
be  seated,  I  pray,"  continued  Master  Coffin. 
Then  he  shouted  for  his  man  James,  who 
appeared  at  the  door  in  a  raoment.  "  Bring 
candles,  and  glasses,  and  two  flasks  of  the 
best  wine  of  Oporto,"  he  ordered.  "  Also, 
tell  Master  Spike  that  we  await  his  pleasure 
in  the  cabin." 

James  saluted  and  hurried  away.  Turn- 
ing to  the  company,  Coffin  saw  that  his  guests 
had  at  last  obtained  a  clear  view  of  Mistress 
Duwaney 's  face.  They  showed  their  sur- 
prise and  admiration  in  r ttitude  and  expres- 
sion. Percy  stood  with  one  foot  advanced, 
motionless,  his  dark  eyes  fixed  steadily  upon 
the  lady's  face.  Master  Down  huddled  his 
warm  cloak  tightly  around  him,  to  keep  his 


66 


A  Captain  of  Ralei*gh*8 


III 


hf- 


shabby  doublet  out  of  sight.  De  Verney  was 
still  bent  forward  in  a  second  impressive  sal- 
utation. Master  Coffin  smiled  quietly.  He 
had  been  quite  right  in  his  opinion  of  the 
spirit  of  Raleigh's  gentlemen. 

James  entered  with  the  candles  and  placed 
them  on  the  table.  With  this  additional  illu- 
mination the  girl  increased  in  attractiveness 
—  at  least,  every  charm  of  her  face  was  dis- 
closed. Her  eyes  shone  like  stars  in  the  soft 
yellow  lig'^  Coffin  himself  ^ad  never  seen 
her  look  q  ;  so  beautiful.  To  the  others, 
who  perhaps  had  not  seen  an  English  woman 
for  many  months,  she  appeared  a  very  mira- 
cle of  loveliness.  The  sight  of  hor  recalled 
the  best  and  happiest  days  of  their  lives  — 
some  wonderful  days  of  childhood,  i^orhaps, 
or  of  golden  days  of  love  that  had  been  long 
ago,  before  the  rough  adventures  an<l  disillu 
sions  of  the  world  had  hardoned  them.  A 
faint  sigh  escaped  do  Verney.  At  tliat,  all 
three  ptarted  and  -rlanced  about  them,  as  if 
the  spril  were  broken  that  had  so  siKidenly 
come  upon  them. 

"It  is  kind  of  you  to  receive  us,  my  dear 


An  Old  Friend 


m 


lady,'*  said  Percy,  in  a  voice  not  entirely  free 
from  agitation. 

'*  It  is  kind  of  you  to  go  to  all  this  trouble 
to  call  upon  me,"  replied  Elizabeth,  smiling 
brightly. 

A  look  of  shanae  and  confusion  passed  be- 
tween Down  and  de  Verney.  Coflfin  saw  it 
and  understood.  No  wonder  they  felt 
ashamed  of  themselves.  They  had  fired  a 
shot  at  the  vessel  carrying  Mistress  Du- 
waney;  and,  but  for  the  happy  chance  of 
Coffin  making  himself  known  to  Percy,  they 
might  have  engaged  the  merchantman  in 
furious  and  bloody  combat. 

Snike  entered  the  cabin  and  the  visitors 
were  named  to  him.  James  placed  wine, 
cakes  and  glasses  on  the  table.  Stools  were 
drawn  up  and  everyone  was  seated.  Coffin 
poured  the  wine,  for  James  was  not  to  be 
trusted  in  so  delicate  an  undertaking. 

"  My  masters,'*  said  Spike,  **  Uiis  be  a 
happy  ending  to  the  morning's  adventure.  T 
feared  something  not  so  sociable.  Well,  here 
hv  luck  to  ye,  gentlt-men,  an'  may  ye  be  as 
polite  in  your  intentions  towards  all  honest 


h^vis^ 


68 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


r  1 


:1  i  ' 


f  i 


ii 


merchantmen  as  ye  seem  to  be  towards  the 
'  Good  Fortune.'  "  So  saying,  he  tossed  the 
wine  into  his  mouth  and  giilp<'d  it  down. 

Captain  Percy  frowned.  **  What  feared 
you,  my  good  master  sliipmanf  **  he  inijuired, 
looking  coldly  at  the  ancient  mariner. 

**  Hoity-toity,  my  fine  gentleman,  I've  iived 
too  long  on  salt  water  to  fear  a  puff  o' 
wind,"  replied  Spike.  **  If  T  told  ye  what 
I  expected  when  1  sighted  your  lops  'twould 
be  no  news  to  ye.  One  picks  up  a  stick  when 
he  sees  a  strange  dog.  One  lays  his  hand  on 
his  purse  when  he  meets  a  masked  man. 
One  looks  for  something  other  than  compli- 
ments when  a  strange  vessel  drops  a  round- 
shot  under  his  stam." 

**  What  do  you  meant  "  asked  Captain 
Percy.  **  Would  you  imply  that  you  took 
my  vessel  for  a  pirate  ship?  " 

"  That  I  did,"  said  Spike,  helping  himself 
to  wine.  **  T  wasn't  thinking  ye'd  fire  a 
shot  at  us  just  hy  way  o'  lettin'  us  know 
ye  was  comin'  aboard  to  drink  a  glass  o* 


wine. 


jf 


At  this,  Coffin  laughed  outrjght.    **  Don't 


ii! 


An  Old  Friend 


69 


be  so  put-about  by  Master  Spike's  talk,  Cap- 
tain Percy,"  he  said.  "  He  has  a  habit  of 
saying  what  ib  m  his  miud  —  and  his  own 
way  of  saying  it." 

"  80  I  see,"  said  Captain  Percy.  **  And 
he  takes  me  for  a  common  pirate." 

'*  Not  for  a  common  one,  master,"  re- 
marked Spike.  "  Common  pirates  don't  at- 
tack ships  o'  war.  An'  that,  I  have  heard, 
he  what  gentry  o*  your  kidney  have  been 
known  to  do.  Oh,  ye  be  finer  birds  nor  com- 
mon sea-robbers  —  but  none  the  safer  to 
meet  for  all  that,  maybe.'* 

*•  You  are,  evidently,  ignorant  of  the  dif- 
ference between  a  pirate  and  a  privateer," 
said  Percy. 

**  Your  ship  is  not  a  privateer,"  retorted 
Spike. 

**  la  she  not?    How  so,  my  good  fellow?  " 

*•  An  English  privateer  does  not  molest 
English  shipping.'* 

**  This  argument  is  useless,"  interrupted 
Coffin.  **  Spike  is  in  the  right  of  it,  Percy, 
and  you  may  talk  until  this  wine  turns  sour 
and  you'll  not  put  him  in  the  wrong.    Your 


■■■■i 


ifiiiiiiirtlA. 


70 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


ship  is  neither  au  honest  merchantman  nor 
yet  a  privateer.  But,  to  give  the  levil  his 
due,  you  have  a  sufficient  excuse  for  your 
new  and  hazardous  way  of  life.  Let  us 
change  the  subject." 

*'  1  nmrit  seem  persistent,  even  ill-man- 
nered, comrade, "  replied  Percy;  "  but  change 
the  subject  of  discussion  I  will  not  until  I 
have  made  my  true  position  clear  to  Mistress 
Duwaney." 

He  looked  across  the  table  straight  into 
Master  Coffin's  eyes,  and  Coffin  returned  him 
glance  for  glance.  Captain  T  rcy's  face  was 
thin  and  dark,  pensive  and  possessed  of  ex- 
traordinary charm.  The  source^  of  this  charra 
was  the  strange  part  of  it,  for  his  fine  nose 
had  been  broken  and  showed  an  unnatural 
bump  in  the  bridge,  and  his  mouth,  of  gen- 
erous width,  had  the  air  of  being  slightly 
one-sided.  A  few  people  thought  him  ugly, 
many  though  f  him  exceedingly  rine-looking, 
and  all  who  knew  him  acknowledged  the  rare 
charm  of  his  appearance  and  manner. 

"As  the  lady  wishes,"  said  Coffin,  com- 
posedly. 


mmm 


iliiaBli 


An  Old  Friend 


71 


"  Certainly,"  replied  the  captain  of  the 
**  Jaguar,"  bowing  slightly. 

**  I  am  anxious  to  know  Captain  Percy's 
true  position,"  said  Elizabeth,  faintly. 

♦*  Thank  you,  madame,"  said  Percy.  "  I 
feel  that  you  and  Master  Coffin  will  see 
my  argument  immediately  —  but  this  good 
mariner  has  a  head  as  solid  as  the  oaken 
frame  of  his  ship." 

"  Never  mind  my  head  nor  my  ship,  mas- 
ter, but  show  us  your  position,"  said  Spike, 
pulling  at  his  trimmed  beard. 

•*  I  have  been  a  soldier  and  an  honorable 
fighter  all  my  life,"  began  Percy,  "  and  have 
fought  in  many  lands  and  under  many  flags. 
Master  Coffin  can  vouch  for  my  reputation 
as  a  gentleman  and  an  honest  officer  in  the 
Low  Countries,  for  there  wo  were  comrades 
in  arms.  For  the  past  two  years  T  have  fol- 
lowed my  military  career  on  shipboard.  At 
first,  as  commander  of  the  *  Jaguar,'  T  served 
the  King  and  that  noble  knight,  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh.  T  carried  colonists  to  the  knight's 
plantations,  explored  the  hearts  of  tropical 
jungles  by  his  orders,  and  fought  Spaniards 


^snm 


'!P&' 


72 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


l.i 


I    :li| 


and  pirates  on  the  sea.  WTien  the  King 
caused  my  beloved  captain  to  be  put  to  an 
ignoble  death,  by  such  base  and  cowardly 
means,  to  curr}  favor  with  Spain,  I  foreswore 
all  alliance  to  that  treacherous  and  merciless 
monarch  and  vowed  that  the  world  should 
feel  something  of  the  sting  of  ray  grief.  The 
gentlemen  who  were  with  me  and  every  man 
of  my  crew  were  of  my  way  of  thinking. 
Other  commanders  of  the  dead  knight 's  ships 
couunitted  themselves  to  the  same  course  of 
action.  They,  too,  have  made  their  anger  felt, 
since  then.  We  have  showed  the  weak- 
minded  James  that  Raleigh  still  lives  —  but 
now  to  destroy  instead  of  to  build  —  in  the 
hearts  of  his  captains.  But  I  am  not  a  pi- 
rate. Spnin  may  call  mo  so,  but  Spain  ahme. 
T  have  fonerht  and  looted  two  Spanish  ships; 
but  they  were  as  Inrire  as  the  '  .Tagimr  '  and 
as  heavily  armed.  T  did  not  put  any  of  their 
men  to  death  after  the  vioiories,  and  T  let 
them  sail  away  —  and  tliey  sailed  all  the 
better  for  their  empty  holds.  T  have  engatred, 
despoiled  and  seuttlod  a  notorious  pirate.  T 
have  engaged  openly  with  a  king's  ship ;  but 


t  I 
t 


dfisS^-M^Jk^ 


An  Old  Friend 


7S 


I  let  it  crawl  away  to  nurse  its  wounds. 
From  any  merchant-ship  other  than  the 
Spanish  vessels  of  which  1  have  spoken,  I 
have  never  taken  more  than  a  few  bags  of 
provisions.  I  have  destroyed  no  voyage  nor 
shed  the  blood  of  any  honest  sailor-man. 
Twice  have  I  come  between  a  pirate-ship  and 
her  intended  prey.  This  is  the  full  tale  of 
ray  activities  as  an  erring  captain  —  and  I 
ask  you  whether  or  not  I  deserve  to  be  named 
for  a  desperado  of  the  sea?  " 

*'  You  have  behaved  very  nobly,  sir,*'  said 
Elizabeth,  shyly. 

**  You  have  followed  a  course  worthy  of 
your  name  and  your  lofty  character,  com- 
rade," said  Coffin,  flushing  with  generous 
emotions. 

"  Tf  what  the  gentleman  says  be  true,  then 
he  be  ihc  most  remarkable  pirate  I  ever 
heard  tell  of,"  said  Spike. 


m 


mmtmm 


^'J, 


mA 


ii.  t;| 


CHAPTER   VI 

THE  OOVEBNOR's   BAD   DAY 

"  You  do  not  mean  to  be  insulting,  ship- 
master? "  queried  Percy,  looking  at  Spike 
with  his  mouth  a  trifle  more  to  one  side  than 
ever. 

"  Insulting?  Nought  could  be  further 
from  my  intention,  sir,"  replied  the  old  nav- 
igator, honestly.  Elizabeth  laughed  —  and 
in  a  moment  Captain  Percy  and  the  others  of 
the  little  company  joined  in  the  mirth.  And 
so,  for  half  an  hour,  good-fellowship  and 
perfect  understanding  prevailed  in  the  cabin 
of  the'*  Good  Fortune." 

Wlien  tho  visitors  were  ready  to  return  to 
their  own  ship,  Coffin  drew  the  commander 
of  the  **  Jaguar  "  aside.  **  Do  yon  lack  any- 
tliing,  comrade?  "  he  asked.  "  How  are  you 
supplioil  with  provisions?  '* 

Captain  Percy  blushed  and  laughed  uneas- 
ily. **  We  Inck  notliing;  but  it  is  like  your 
good  heart  to  ask  it,"  he  said.    **  We  lack 

74 


»k^ 


i^MM 


The  Governor's  Bad  Day 


75 


nothing  to  eat  and  nothing  to  drink  —  but 
only  QUI  great  commander.  That  loss  my 
heart  cannot  forget.  But  you  have  treated 
iiie  well,  comrade ;  and  1  hope  you  have  for- 
given me  that  round- shot,  which  was  in- 
tended as  notliing  more  than  a  request  to 
lieave  to,  so  that  I  might  come  aboard  and 
learn  your  business.  And  I  hope  that  Mis- 
tress Duwaney  does  not  hold  me  in  distrust." 

**  The  shot  is  forgiven,  comrade  —  and  I 
feel  sure  that  our  passenger  knows  you  for 
the  bra VI  and  honorable  gentleman  that  you 
are,"  replied  Harold  Coffin,  generously. 

When  the  gentlemen  of  the  '*  Jaguar  " 
were  over  the  side  and  in  the  stem-sheets  of 
their  small  boat  and  Elizabeth,  Coffin  and 
Spike  were  gazing  down  at  them,  Percy 
stood  up  and  removed  his  hat.  '*  I  shall  give 
myself  the  pleasure  of  keeping  you  in  sight 
until  you  reach  your  harbor,  for  these  are 
dangerous  waters,"  he  said.  Then,  at  a  ges- 
ture of  his  hand,  his  stout  fellows  bent  their 
backs  to  the  oars  and  the  little  boat  drew 
away  from  the  **  Good  Fortune." 

Three  days  later,  the  lookout  sighted  the 


■■J.x 


MICROCOPY    RESOLUTION   TEST   CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No    2) 


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1.4 


2.5 

12.2 

2.0 
1.8 

1.6 


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^^^  ^tbl   tnrA    Main    Street 

S'.JI  Rochester,    Ne*    fork  14609        USA 

'-^  ("'''6)   482  -  0300  ~  Phone 

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76 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


i 


I  il: 


;:i  \ 


grim  and  desolate  coast  of  the  Newfoimd- 
land.  Spike  knew  his  exact  position  at  a 
glance  and  headed  his  ship  a  few  points 
northerly.  He  had  made  his  landfall  near 
the  hidden  entrance  to  the  harbor  of  St. 
John's.  The  great  bay  of  Conception  lay  to 
the  northward.  Though  the  distant  coast 
was  bleak  and  forbidding  of  aspect,  the  gen- 
eral outlook  from  the  sea-weary  ship  was 
enlivening.  The  sun  shone  from  a  clear  sky 
and  there  was  no  sign  of  fog  in  any  direc- 
tion. The  small  seas  flashed  in  the  spring 
radiance  and  a  great  iceberg,  drifting  ma- 
jestically southward,  seemed  tipped  with 
white  and  blue  flame  at  every  point  and 
angle.  The  rocky  coast  of  the  island  changed 
in  hue  from  smoky  gray  to  purple  and  warm 
brown.  Several  little  fishing-boats,  with 
dingy  sails,  moved  over  the  green  waters. 
Astern,  the  white  tower  of  the  guardian 
**  Jaguar's  "  canvas  gleamed  like  pearl  in 
the  sunlight. 

Elizabeth  and  Harold  went  forward  and 
ascended  to  ttie  high  forecastle-deck,  Eliza- 
beth found  a  comfortable  seat  on  a  great  coil 


The  Governor's  Bad  Day  77 


of  rope.    The  yoimg  man  stood  close  beside 
her,  leaning  his  shoulders  against  one  of  the 
taut  stays  that  supported  the  high-pitched 
jib-boom.    He  was  doing  his  best  to  conceal 
from  his  companion  a  terrible  depression  of 
spirits  from  which  he  was  suffering.     The 
voyage  was  almost  over.     The  separation 
was  soon  to  take  place  —  the  separation  that 
was  for  a  life-time.    And  yet  a  life-time,  so 
far  as  he  was  concerned,  might  prove  to  be 
a  very  brief  period  of  time.    If  the  fog  and 
cold  of  the  north  did  not  kill  him  before  many 
years  had  passed,  it  was  altogether  likely 
that  bullet  or  knife  in  the  West  Indies  would 
accomplish     the     inconsiderable     business. 
These  desperate  reflections  on  the  part  of 
the  frail  young  gentleman  were  entirely  due 
to  the  fact  that  he  was  in  love  with  Elizabeth 
Duwaney.    Fully  aware  of  his  shortcomings 
—  of  his  poverty,  grotesque  figure,  undis- 
tinguished face  and  ill-health  —  he  realized 
that  though  the  lady  might  feel  friendship 
and  pity  for  him  she  could  never  love  him 
as  a  man  who  loves  has  a  right  to  be  loved 
in  return.    Well  he  knew  that  the  qualities 


78 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


ll 


ill 


)1 


that  enabled  hun  to  take  his  place  in  rough 
camps  and  aboard  rough  ships  were  not  such 
as  to  put  him  on  an  equal  footing  with  so 
good  and  beautiful  a  young  woman  as  this 
daughter  of  the  ex-alderman  of  Bristol.    Oh, 
it  was  no  thought  of  social  inequality  that 
disturbed.     Socially,  things  were  quite  the 
other  way  —  for,  despite  his  poverty,  he  was 
what  her  worthy  father  was  not  —  a  gentle- 
man.   But  no  foolish  thought  of  this  kind 
entered  his  head  for  a  moment.    It  was  the 
sense  and  knowledge  of  personal  inequality 
that  occupied  his  mind  and  depressed  him 
unspeakably.     He  saw  his  duty  plain.     He 
must  hide  his  heart  and  show  only  a  reason- 
able friendship.    In  a  day  or  two  they  would 
part  — and  then  he  must  forget,  in  hard- 
ship  and   adventure,   that   they  had   ever 
met. 

"  Now  that  the  voyage  draws  to  its  end 
I  begin  to  feel  some  uneasiness  on  the  score 
of  my  reception,"  confessed  Mistress  Du- 
waney. 

Thus  recalled  from  the  bitter  shades  of  his 
reflections,  Master  Coffin  looked  down  at  her 


•  ' 


The  Governor's  Bad  Day  79 


upturned  face  with  his  insignificant  features 
twisted  into  a  tragic  smile. 

**  I  cannot  believe,"  said  he,  *'  that  you 
can  possibly  have  any  grounds  for  uneasi- 
ness. I  am  sure  that  your  father  will  be 
delighted  to  see  you  after  the  long,  dull  win- 
ter which  he  has  endured." 

**  I  pray  you  may  be  right,"  returned  the 
girl,  in  anxiety  not  entirely  pretended. 
**  That  is  exactly  how  I  felt  when  I  set  out 
on  this  daring  enterprise;  but  now,  when 
Bristol  and  Tom  are  so  far  astern  and  the 
plantation  and  my  father  so  close  in  front, 
my  courage  and  assurance  waver  a  little.  It 
is  an  excellent  joke,  of  course;  but  for  all 
that,  here  am  I  where  I  am  not  wanted,  and 
there  is  Toni  still  snug  at  home  —  in  exactly 
the  place  which  my  father  intended  to  draw 
him  from.  We  are  accustomed  to  the  joke  — 
but  I  fear  it  will  be  a  notable  surprise  to  my 
dear  father." 

*'  If  I  were  he  I  should  consider  it  a  de- 
lightful surprise,"  returned  the  infaiiuated 
youth. 

"  If  you  were  my  father,"  laughed  the  girl. 


r 


w 


80 


5    ( 


»•-  ! 


!^l: 


ii 


h 

i  : 

rli 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


Then  Master  Coffin  remembered  himself 
and  gazed  straight  ahead  of  him  at  the  flash- 
ing sea.  **  I  do  not  think  his  anger  will  last 
more  than  a  few  minutes,"  he  said,  with  a 
huskiness  in  his  voice  which  he  could  not 
overcome.  Elizabeth  looked  up  at  him, 
quickly  and  with  anxious  inquiry  in  her  eyes. 
Without  seeing  them,  Harold  was  aware  of 
both  the  movement  and  the  glance.  He 
ti'.-ned,  avoiding  her  eyes,  and  looked  di- 
rectly aft. 

'*  What  is  it!  "  asked  the  girl.  "  Are  you 
iu  pain?  "  The  consciousness  of  his  narrow 
chest  and  pale  cheeks  was  always  with  her 
and,  though  he  never  mentioned  his  health, 
she  often  feared  that  he  was  suffering. 
Startled  by  the  strange  tone  of  his  voice,  this 
question  had  slipped,  unwe.^^jed,  from  her 
lips. 

He  looked  down  at  her  —  and  that  he  was 
in  pain  she  could  not  doubt.  Their  eyes  met 
for  only  a  second  —  but  in  that  second  she 
understood.  A  bripf  bi,*;  potent  silence  fol- 
lowed in  which  they  stared  separate  ways 
but  saw  nothing. 


I 


»  I 


The  Governor's  Bad  Day  81 

**  Percy  continues  to  keep  us  well  in 
sight,"  remarked  the  young  man,  in  a  voice 
that,  for  all  its  studied  calm,  could  not  ae- 
ceive  the  girl 's  anxious  and  sensitive  ear. 

**  Such  devotion  is  truly  remarkable,"  she 
replied,  giving  no  thought  to  her  words.  * '  A 
comrade  like  that  is  worth  much  hardship  in 
the  winning." 

By  now  Harold  was  outwardly  himself 
again.  He  laughed  shortly  but  without  bit- 
terness. *'  Do  you  not  think,  my  dear  lady, 
that  it  is  for  yo"v  safety  rather  than  for  that 
of  his  old  comrade-in-arms  that  he  has  con- 
voyed us  so  far?  " 

"It  cannot  be!"  exclaimed  Elizabeth, 
honestly  surprised  and  genuinely  confused. 
"  It  cannot  be  so,  Master  Coffin.  Surely  his 
friend's  safety  is  more  to  him  than  that  of 
a  strange  young  woman?  Why,  he  knows 
nothing  of  me  but  my  name  —  and  I  think 
that  would  make  no  great  impression  upon 
him." 

**  He  has  seen  you,"  said  Harold,  with  un- 
natural levity. 

The  girl,  blushing,  smiled  thoughtfully  to 


ii  t 


M 


'W 


I 

i 
i 

i             i 

V 

'    ■ 

■■ 

Mi 

.iij 


82 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


herfswlf.  And  thus,  all  unheeding,  did  Master 
CofiSn  sow  the  seed  that  was  to  blossom  in 
due  season. 

And  now  to  return  to  the  plantation  of 
Bristol's  Hope.  Master  Duwaney,  awaking 
from  a  nap  before  the  fire  of  birch  logs  on 
his  wide  hearth,  took  his  telescope  from  its 
slings  against  the  wall  and  hobbled  out  to 
l-flvo  another  look  for  the  topsails  of  the 
'•  Good  Fortune."  The  time  was  mid-after- 
noon. He  seated  himself  on  the  bench  beside 
the  door  and  began  to  polish  the  lenses  of  the 
telescope  with  a  silk  handkerchief.  Not  once 
did  he  raise  his  head  for  an  inspection  of  the 
bay  with  the  naked  aye.  It  was  his  intention 
to  look  through  :  '  f  ;ope  —  therefore  he 

would  not  look  a  i  until  the  glass  was 
ready.  Such  was  the  governor  of  Bristol's 
Hope.  He  was  still  polishing  vigorously 
when  three  men  came  up  from  the  shingle, 
halted  in  front  of  the  governor  and  knuckled 
their  caps. 

"  Here  be  the  '  Good  Fortune,'  yer  wor- 
ship," said  the  senior  of  the  three. 


s  < 


The  Governor's  Bad  Day  83 

**  How  say  yout  Where  awayT  *'  cried 
Duwaney,  letting  the  handkerchief  flutter  to 
the  ground  and  lifting  the  telescope  to  his 
eye.  But  he  did  not  see  the  ship,  for  in  his 
excitement  he  had  pointed  the  glass  fair  at 
old  Bill  Wing's  expansive  chest. 

"  She  be  that  handy,  sir,"  said  Bill,  "  that 
ye '11  glimpse  her  as  well  with  yer  eye  as 
through  that  there  fine  horoscope." 

"  How  so,  fellow!  "  cried  the  governor; 
but  in  spite  of  his  indignation  he  lowered  the 
glass  and  looked  down  the  bay  —  and  there, 
sure  enough,  was  the  **  Good  Fortune,"  her 
anchors  already  let  go  and  her  sails  swiftly 
furling. 

"Bless  my  soul!"  exclaimed  the  gov- 
ernor. **  That's  just  like  that  old  fool  of  a 
shipmaster!  Here  I've  been  watching  for 
him  for  the  past  two  weeks,  night  and  day, 
so  to  speak,  and  as  soon  as  I  take  a  wink  of 
sleep,  in  he  crawls.  Where  is  Master  Mac- 
Allister?  " 

"  He  was  off  to  the  woods,  yer  worship, 
when  we  left  for  the  fishin*,"  replied  Bill 
Wing. 


84 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


I  J 


'II 


tli' 


..I 


I  - 


I 


•*  Then  pull  me  out  to  the  ship,  lads,"  said 
the  governor. 

Now  it  happened  that  Wing  and  his  two 
companions  had  come  straight  in  from  the 
fishing  to  warn  the  governor  of  the  approach 
of  the  "  Grood  Fortune,"  and  so  their  boat 
was  half-full  of  fish.  The  ship  had  sailed  so 
close  on  their  heels  that  they  had  not  paused 
to  unload  on  reaching  the  laud-wash.  Their 
haste  may  be  explained  by  the  fact  that  by 
an  unwritten  law  of  the  plantation  the  first 
man  to  give  word  of  the  arrival  of  a  ship  in 
the  bay  wab  entitled  to  a  gallon  of  home- 
brewed ale.  Even  a  gallon  of  ale  is  worth 
dividing  by  three. 

**  How  is  this?  "  cried  the  governor,  upon 
reaching  the  skiflF.  **  I)o  you  think  that  I, 
the  representative  of  His  Majesty's  author- 
ity in  these  parts,  can  go  out  to  receive  the 
Company's  ship,  and  in  my  official  capacity 
at  that,  perched  atop  a  heap  of  slimy  cod- 
fish? " 

"  'Twon't  take  us  two  shakes  o'  a  ram's 
tail  to  heave  'em  out,  yer  worship,  an*  put 
all  ship-shape,"  said  Bill  Wing. 


The  Governor's  Bad  Day  85 

*'  I'll  thank  you  not  to  make  suggestions 
to  nio,"  snapped  the  governor.  **  You  forget 
yourself,  William.  As  for  this  fellow  Spike, 
I'll  let  him  see  that  though  he  may  dawdle 
the  precious  weeks  away  in  crossing  the 
ocean  I  am  ready  for  him  on  the  minute.  So 
shove  off,  my  good  fellows,  that  I  may  be 
alongside  before  the  shipmaster  has  time  to 
lower  a  boat." 

That  the  "  Good  Fortune  "  had  slipped 
into  port  while  he  indulged  in  his  afternoon 
nap  rankled  in  the  worthy  governor's  mind, 
for  it  pleased  him  to  have  people  think  that 
the  responsibilities  of  his  position  kept  him 
always  alert  and  awake.  And  now,  to  add 
pepper  to  his  temper,  he  was  f(  reed  to  take 
his  seat  on  a  folded  sail  a  tp  a  pile  of  ^ limy 
fish.    Also,  his  offending  .oe  began  t(        -ob. 

Governor  Duwaney  was  in  a  pipin^  hot 
humor  when  the  skiff  reached  the  anf'*»wed 
ship.    He  found  the  ladder  already  1.  ! 

for  him  and  Spike  and  Coffin  gazing  o\  ** 
side,  hats  in  hand,  and  arrayed  in  their  st 
clothes.  In  ascending  the  ladder  he  suffe  1 
agony  in  his  toe  and  scraped  his  knucklt 


w^ 


86 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


1  : 


The  commander  and  the  master  received  him 
ceremoniously,  with  the  whole  ship's  com- 
pany drawn  up  at  attention  in  regular  man- 
o'-war  style.  This  show  of  respect  would 
have  chased  away  his  ill  humor  on  ordinary 
occasions;  but  this  was  not  .in  ordinary 
occasion. 

"  You  are  late,"  he  cried,  glaring-  from 
the  uneasy  master  to  the  yet  more  uneasy 
conmiander. 

*'  The  ways  o'  the  wind  an'  the  sea  be  in 
the  hand  o'  the  Lord,"  replied  Spike,  with 
an  effort  to  maintain  his  usual  stolidity  of 
manner. 

Duwaney  gave  no  heed  to  the  master's 
words.  "  Where  is  my  son?  "  he  cried. 
"  Why  is  he  not  here  to  receive  me?  What 
is  the  world  coming  to  when  a  son  dare  treat 
his  father  with  such  lack  of  respect?  " 

Coffin  and  Spike  glanced  anxiously  at  each 
other,  and  even  the  hardy  mariners,  standing 
arow  in  honor  of  the  governor,  felt  a  chill  of 
apprehension  pass  through  their  hearts  of 
oak. 

**  Where  is  he,  I  say  I  "  cried  the  governor, 


i: 


i  ' 


The  Governor's  Bad  Day  87 

adding  fuel  to  his  internal  fiies  by  stamping 
his  gouty  foot  upon  the  unyielding  deck. 

"  Sir,  your  son,"  began  Coffin  —  and 
stopped  there  for  lack  of  anything  mori  to 
say. 

'*  Out  with  )  >t  with  it,  Master  Coffin  1 

Wliat  have  you  •  ..ay  of  my  son?  The  truth, 
sir,  I  command  you!  Is  he  alive  or  is  he 
dead?  Is  he  aboard  this  ship,  or  is  he  not? 
Has  the  sea  got  him,  or  have  pirates  carried 
him  away?    Out  with  it  I    Out  with  it!  " 

The  old  man  was  in  a  terrible  state,  for 
now  paternal  anxiety  was  mixed  with  his 
anger.  His  face  was  red  as  a  squid.  He 
st<'j)ped  close  to  the  dismayed  Master  Coffin 

d  clutched  the  front  of  his  doublet  with 
.ioth  hands. 

**  What  have  you  done  with  my  son?  Tell 
me,  or  I'll  shake  it  out  of  you,"  he  shouted. 


s  :i 


I 


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I 

[  It 

'->t 


;  \ 


CHAPTER   Vn 

MOBE   OF  THE   GOVEENOB'S   BAD   DAT 

"  'PoN  my  word,  sir,  you  forget  yourself. 
Unhand  me.  Your  son?  I  have  never  set 
eyes  on  the  worthy  youth,"  returned  Cofl&n, 
his  anger  beginning  to  overwhelm  his  em- 
barrassment. 

Diiwaney  shook  him  violently.  **  How  say 
you?  Never  set  eyes  on  himf  Then  you 
have  not  brought  him?  " 

'*  Away  with  you!  Unhold  me,  lest  I  do 
you  an  injury.  D'you  think  you're  back  in 
your  warehouse,  handling  a  sack  of  corn?  '* 

At  this  the  furious  magistrate  looked  as 
if  he  were  about  to  have  a  fit.  **  You  insolent 
rascal!  You  penniless  whipper-snapper!" 
he  bellowed,  shaking  Master  Coffin  backward 
and  forward  by  the  front  of  his  doublet. 

**  You  go  too  far,"  cried  Spike.  **  Have 
a  care !  "  He  saw  a  light  in  the  commander's 
pale  eyes  that  meant  danger.    Without  apol- 

88 


:   1 

;f!|" 


y 


More  of  the  Governor's  Bad  Day    89 


ogy  he  grabbed  Duwauey  by  the  shoulders 
and  jerked  him  away  from  the  other.  At 
that  moment  Elizabeth  appeared  from  the 
cabin,  where  she  had  been  waiting  in  trepi- 
dation for  her  father  to  find  her.  His  furi- 
ous cries,  however,  had  drawn  her  from  her 
retreat.  She  ran  to  him  and  clutched  his 
hands.  For  a  little  while  he  gaped  at  her 
with  protruding  eyes  and  open  mouth.  But 
this  crowning  shock  was  too  much  for  him 
and  he  suddenly  fell  flat  on  the  deck.  The 
girl  sank  to  her  knees  on  one  side  of  him  and 
Harold  CoflRn  on  the  other. 

**  It  is  nought  but  a  fit,"  babbled  the  young 
man,  ashamed  of  his  part  in  exciting  the  gov- 
ernor. **  He'll  be  right  as  a  trivet  in  a  few 
minutes.  He  has  too  much  blood  —  and  it 
has  all  flown  to  his  head.  He  was  in  a  flurry 
when  he  came  aboard  and  would  listen  to 
nothing.*' 

But  the  girl  was  weeping  bitterly  and 
heard  nothing  of  his  words.  "  Oh,  what  have 
T  done?  T  have  killed  him  with  my  wicked 
prank,"  she  cried,  brokenly. 

Now  Master  James,  the  commander's  body 


{ 


'■  'i 


■    I!  J 


n 


90 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


( .  1 


>  t 


'■\  ! 


s    I 


servant,  appeared  upon  the  scene,  pushing 
his  way  through  the  ring  of  mariners  that 
surrounded  the  prostrate  and  unconscioas 
governor.  In  his  hands  he  carried  a  metal 
bowl,  some  strips  of  linen  and  a  small  box. 

'*  Allow  me  to  attend  to  him,  mistress," 
he  said.  **  During  my  years  of  soldiering  in 
my  master's  sers'ice  I  have  learned  a  deal  of 
surgery.  His  worship  has  too  much  blood 
and  it  be  too  hot.  Let  me  get  at  him  and 
I'll  have  him  cool  as  a  candle  and  lively  as  a 
cricket  in  ten  mortal  minutes." 

"  James  speaks  truly.  He  is  skilled  with 
the  lancet,"  whispered  Harold,  reaching 
across  the  bulky  governor  and  taking  one  of 
the  girl's  hands  in  both  of  his. 

And  so  Master  James  was  allowed  to  prac- 
tise his  military  surgery  on  the  governor  of 
Bristol's  Hope.  That  he  made  the  most  of 
his  opportunity  you  may  well  believe,  and 
was  not  satisfied  until  he  had  drawn  such  a 
quantity  of  blood  from  the  over-charged 
veins  as  would  have  left  an  ordinary  man  dry 
as  a  bone.  This  simple  and  heroic  treatment 
did  the  trick,  however.    Within  ten  minutes 


I*!} 


i 


^ 


MMH 


More  of  the  Governor's  Bad  Day     91 

of  the  moment  of  his  fall  the  governor  sighed 
and  opened  his  eyes.  Truly  he  was  cool  as 
a  candle,  though  not  quite  as  lively  as  a 
cricket.  His  blind  rage  of  a  few  minutes 
before  had  vanished  entirely  as  if  it  had  been 
a  poison  in  the  blood  that  James  had  so 
deftly  released  and  caught  in  his  metal  dish. 

**  I  fear  I  have  had  a  seizure  —  the  result 
of  worry  and  overwork,"  remarked  the  gov- 
ernor in  a  small,  mild  voice. 

"  That  is  indeed  the  case,  sir,"  said  Har- 
old. 

*  *  And  I  was  unduly  wrought  up,  I  believe, 
concerning  the  whereabouts  of  my  son,"  con- 
tinued Duwaney.  **  Even  now  1  am  not 
quite  clear  on  this  point  —  owing,  no  doubt, 
to  my  disturbed  state  of  mind  at  the  time  of 
making  inquiry." 

**  Allow  me  to  feel  of  your  pulse,  your 
worship,"  said  James. 

This  favor  was  allowed  without  protest 
from  the  great  man. 

**  Steady  as  marching  and  strong  as  a 
horse,"  announced  James. 

**  I  seem  to  have  a  misty  sort  of  recoUec- 


1  '■ 


m 


II 


J 


I 


!       i 


in 


■M 


92 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


u 


l.]i 


■M 


I  ; 


i     ! 


i 


h 


m 


tion  —  or  maybe  'twas  a  dream  —  of  seeing 
the  face  of  my  daughter  for  a  moment,  be- 
fore my  emotions  overwhelmed  rae,"  said  the 
governor. 

**  Your  daughter  is  here,  sir.  She  could 
not  r  jmain  away  from  you  a  moment  longer 
and  dared  to  risk  your  displeasure  for  very 
love,"  said  Master  Coffin,  carefully  avoiding 
the  other's  glance. 

**  Where  is  she?  "  inquired  the  patient  in 
a  dove-like  voice. 

He  had  been  carried  from  the  deck  to  the 
cabin  and  now  lay  on  the  wide  locker  under 
the  stem  window.  Elizabeth,  who  had  been 
standing  behind  his  head  and  out  of  his  range 
of  vision,  now  moved  forward  and  knelt  be- 
side him.  "  Here  I  am,  dear  father,"  she 
murmured. 

He  laid  his  hand  very  gently  on  her  bowed 
head.  "  You  have  played  me  many  pranks, 
Sweetheart ;  but  this  last  certainly  beats  the 
devil  for  madness  and  impudence,"  he  said, 
mildly.  "  If  this  obliging  surgeon  had  not 
deprived  me  of  at  least  a  bucketful  of  hot 
blood  I*d  be  sorely  tempted  to  give  you  a 


r 


More  of  the  Governor's  Bad  Day     93 

whipping,  my  dear,  just  by  way  of  discipline. 
But  as  it  is,  it  is.  I  hope  you  are  in  good 
health,  my  dear?  " 

*'  Yes,  sir,  in  far  better  health  than  I  de- 
serve, ' '  replied  the  girl  in  trembling  accents, 
raising  he  head  and  gazing  through  a  mist 
of  contrite  tears  at  her  father's  face. 

"  Auvt  Tom?  Did  you  leave  him  in  the 
enjoyment  of  his  usual  good  health  and  be- 
fuddled state  of  mind?  "  inquired  the  gov- 
ernor. 

**  Yes,  sir.  He  was  still  busily  engaged  in 
writing  poetiy, "  replied  the  girl.  '*  But  this 
is  not  his  faiilt,"  she  added,  after  a  brief 
pause.  '*  It  was  ray  idea  entirely  —  this  of 
making  the  voyage  in  his  stead.  But  for  me 
he'd  be  here  now,  according  to  your  orders." 

"  I  could  forgive  him  disobedience  more 
easily  than  this  tomfool  lack  of  spirit  and 
will  power,"  said  the  governor.  **  He  could 
be  taught  to  oll^  ^^  A  rebellious  spirit  could 
be  curbed  and  ^  xded.  But  if  the  Almighty 
saw  fit  to  create  him  without  a  backbone  I 
fear  that  it  is  beyond  my  power  to  make  good 
the  deficiency." 


i    I 


1 


>\> 


W 


it 


S  ^    ! 


rn 


1 


it 


;{.!) 


■'n 


.1  ! 
I 


ir 


1 1 

t  i 


it 

Ii  • 


94 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


Hf  e  Master  James  (at  a  nod  from  Har- 
old) again  possessed  himself  of  the  jatient's 
wrist.  * '  You  must  calm  yourself,  your  wor- 
dhip,"  he  cautioned,  with  a  very  solemn  air. 
"  If  you  ar.ow  your  mind  to  dwell  upon  un- 
pleasant subjects  your  blood  will  again  heat 
and  rise  to  your  head,  in  which  case,  your 
worship,  I  shall  feel  it  my  duty  to  draw  off 
another  quart  or  two  of  the  poisonous 
liquid." 

"  "What  is  this?  "  returned  Duwaney,  rais- 
ing his  head  from  the  pillow.  "  How  dare 
you  name  my  blood  for  poisonous  liquid?  A 
pretty  way  to  talk  of  the  governor  of  Bris- 
tol's Hope,  I  must  say,  and  fair  in  his  face, 
at  that." 

**  I  spoke  of  your  blood,  your  worship, 
purely  from  a  surgical  point  of  vievv,"  an- 
swered James,  hastily. 

**  Then  speak  no  more  of  it,"  snapped  the 


governor. 


(( 


And    mark    ye,"    he    added, 


**  that  if  I  see  you  draw  that  little  knife 
within  a  league  of  my  person  I'll  have  you 
hung  from  the  flagstaff  in  front  of  my 
house." 


.  ,1 

!    'i 
I      : 


More  of  the  Governor's  Bad  Day     95 

' '  His  worship  needs  rest  and  quiet, ' '  whis- 
pered the  crestfallen  James  to  his  master. 
Then  he  went  swiftly  and  quietly  from  the 
cabin. 

Duwaney  at  last  consented,  under  the 
combined  pleadings  of  his  daughter  and 
Master  Coffin,  to  remain  a  few  hours  longer 
in  the  cabin  of  the  "  Good  Fortune."  To 
tell  the  truth,  he  was  in  no  great  hurry  to 
move  —  though  he  pretended  to  be  vastly 
anxious  concerning  the  safety  of  the  colony 
during  his  absence.  One  would  think  that  he 
was  afraid  that  it  would  be  carried  away, 
rocks,  roofs  and  people,  by  some  enemy  of 
the  Company.  I  must  confess  that  the 
worthy  governor  was  something  of  a  hum- 
bug. Plenty  of  good  men  are  humbugs  in 
harmless  ways.  It  is  usually  due  to  a  mild 
vanity  of  one  kind  or  another.  Duwaney  was 
vain  of  a  reputation  which  he  believed  him- 
self to  possess  for  hard  work  and  unflagging 
\ngilance  a&  a  colonizer.  That  he  really  did 
not  possess  such  a  reputation  is  neither  here 
nor  there. 

Master  Donald  MacAllister  boarded  the 


u    ' 


i 

■  ; 


=1! 


i  : 


11 


II- . 


96 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


'*  Good  Fortune  "  within  an  hour  of  the 
governor's  recovery  from  the  seizure  and 
the  remedy.  Bill  Wing,  who  had  returned 
to  the  shore  without  waiting  for  orders  to 
that  effect,  had  told  him  a  mad  and  wonder- 
ful story.  Acording  to  Bill,  the  governor 
had  accused  Master  Coffin  of  having  mur- 
dered his  son  and  had  attacked  Master  Cof- 
fin in  a  violent  manner.  Then,  of  a  sudden, 
a  young  lady  had  dashed  from  some  hiding- 
place  and  knocked  the  governor  flat  on  the 
deck.  At  this  point  old  Bill  AVing  and  young 
Bill  Wing  and  Ken  Wood  had  pulled  swiftly 
away  from  the  ship,  not  wanting  to  become 
involved  in  affairs  of  state. 

MacAllister  sprang  to  the  deck  of  the 
"  Good  Fortune  "  with  his  naked  sword  in 
his  hand  and  five  armed  men  at  his  heels, 
afire  with  anxiety  and  furj%  and  fearful  of 
he  knew  not  what  horrid  act  of  treason. 
Tliree  men  of  the  "  Good  Fortune's  "  crew 
who  happened  to  be  loitering  about  the  main 
deck  stood  their  ground  for  half  a  second, 
gaping  in  astonishment  and  convinced  that 
they  had  anchored  off  a  nest  of  pirates,  and 


More  of  the  Governor's  Bad  Day    97 

then  turned  and  fled  to  the  security  of  the 
forecastle.  Word  flew  through  the  ship 
that  six  pirates  —  or  madmen  —  had  come 
aboard.  MacAllister,  shouting  the  govern- 
or's name,  made  straight  for  the  after-cabin 
with  his  five  supporters  close  behind  him. 
His  hand  was  extended  for  assault  upon  the 
door  when  it  was  opened  for  him  by  Eliza- 
beth Duwaney.  He  halted  so  sharply  that  his 
men  collided  against  him.  He  snatched  his 
hat  from  his  head  and  tried  to  get  his  sword 
out  of  sight  behind  his  back. 

**  Who  are  you?  Why  do  you  shout  my 
father's  name? "  faltered  the  girl,  her 
nerves,  already  overwrought,  grievously 
shaken  by  the  warlike  appearance  of  the 
visitors. 

For  a  second  or  two  MacAllister  continued 
to  stand  there  gaping  and  staring,  with  his 
astonished  fellows  pressing  against  him.  He 
could  command  neither  his  tongue  nor  his 
wits.  True,  Bill  Wing  had  mentioned  a 
young  lady  as  the  governor's  murderer;  but 
he  had  expected  nothing  like  this.  What  he 
had  expected  he  did  not  know  —  and  as  to 


t 


!i 


i  ' 


i) 


^li^ 


'» i 


I    i 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


what  he  had  found  he  was  still  more  in  the 
fog.  His  wits  were  so  clouded  that  he  had 
not  heard  a  word  of  the  girl's  speech.  The 
spell  was  hroken  by  Master  Coffin,  who  ap- 
peared suddenly  beside  the  invaders,  having 
swung  himself  down  from  the  deck  of  the 
poop. 

"Good  day  to  you,  Master  MacAllister," 
he  said.  ''  May  I  ask  why  you  have  been 
pleased  to  come  aboard  in  such  a  furious 
manner?  " 

The  Scot  turned  with  an  exclamation  of 
sharp   relief.     "Coffin,"   he   cried.     "By 
heaven !  it  is  good  to  set  eyes  on  a  sane  man. 
Tell  me,  am  I  asleep  or  awake?    And  where 
is  the  governor?    And  what  has  happened  to 
him?    And  what  is  all  this  trouble  about?  " 
"  The  governor  had  a  rush  of  blood  to  the 
head,  but  is  now  himself  again,"  replied 
Harold.    "  But  dismiss  your  boarding-party 
and  step  within  and  we'll  explain  everything 
to  you.     One  moment!    Mistress  Duwaney, 
allow  me  to  present  you  Master  Donald  Mao-' 
Allister,   your  father's   lieutenant   in   this 
plantation." 


More  of  the  Governor's  Bad  Day     99 

As  tlie  three  entered  tlie  cabin,  the  gov- 
ernor turned  his  head  on  his  pillow.  **  Ah, 
Donald,  lad,"  said  he,  faintly,  "I'm  glad 
to  see  you  again.  It  seems  days  instead  of 
hours  since  I  last  clapt  eyes  on  you.  I  lost 
my  temper,  lad,  and  suffered  a  seizure;  but 
I  feel  better  now,  though  infernal  weak.  I'll 
be  fit  to  go  ashore  in  a  few  minutes." 

"  I  am  thankful  it  is  no  worse,  sir,'*  re- 
turned MacAllister,  with  a  note  of  genuine 
anxiety  in  his  voice.  **  By  old  Bill  Wing's 
story  T  believed  that  you  had  been  done  for. 
He  as  good  as  said  that  —  that  some  one 
knocked  you  prostrate  on  the  deck.  I  feared 
murder  and  treason  and  I  know  not  what 
beside.  I  thought  the  world  had  gone  mad  — 
and  so,  to  be  with  the  majority,  went  mad 
myself." 

Here  he  laughed  shamefacedly  and  shot  a 
glance  at  the  girl. 

*'  We  have  all  been  mad,  I  think.  It  has 
been  a  mad  day,"  said  she,  blushing. 

"  And  a  great  part  of  the  madness  still  to 
be  paid  for,"  grumbled  the  governor. 

MacAllister    asked    permission,    and    re- 


'  ,  ''y 


(  'I 


100 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


!h 


"U  ,1 


t  I 


ceived  it  promptly,  to  send  his  boat  back  to 
the  shore  with  a  true  account  of  what  had 
taken  place  aboard  the  ♦'  Good  Fortune," 
that  the  apprehensions  of  the  settlers  might 
be  quieted  and  old  Bill  Wing  put  to  shame 
for  his  outrageous  story.  Then  the  three 
young  people  — the  girl,  Coffin  and  Mac- 
Allister  — se  -d  themselves  on  stools  close 
to  the  locker  on  which  the  governor  lay. 
The  old  gentleman  looked  them  over  with  a 
calculating  eye. 

*'  Master  Coffin,"  said  he,  "  I'd  be  inter- 
ested to  hear  how  a  man  of  the  world  like 
yourself  came  to  allow  my  daughter  to  make 
such  fools  of  us  all  — of  the  Company,  the 
colony  and  the  ship." 

"  Well,  sir,  I  am  forced  to  admit  that  I 
was  helpless,"  replied  Harold,  in  confusion. 
"  It  may  be  that  I  have  a  knowledge  of  camps 
and  cities,  sir;  but  in  what  way  was  such 
knowledge  to  lielp  me?  Yon  can  see  how  it 
was,  sir  -  that  is,  you  could  if  you  did  not 
happen  to  be  her  father.  She  wanted  to 
make  the  voyage.    All  is  said." 

"  Nay  all  is  not  said,"  returned  the  gov- 


i« 

\ 

1 


More  of  the  Governor's  Bad  Day  101 

ernor,  trying  to  hide  a  smile  that  titJcied  his 
lips.  '*  I  thouglit  better  of  you,  Master  Cof- 
fin. You  are  the  military  commander  of  this 
good  ship.  Owing  to  your  reputation  as  an 
able  officer  and  a  courageous  fighter  you  hold 
this  position  of  trust.  Then  how  is  it  that 
you  let  yourself  be  made  a  fool  of  hy  the 
whim  of  a  chit  of  a  girl?  I  tell  ,  sir,  you 
lack  courage  —  aye,  though  ,  at  me  alive 
for  it!  Bah !  — to  be  afraid  ♦^  a  girl.  But 
what  of  Spike T  Where  is  the  old  sea-dog? 
I'll  wager  he  is  hiding  from  me,  fearful  that 
I'll  put  a  few  plain  questions  to  him  as  to 
why  he  failed  to  obey  my  orders.  He  is  old 
enough  and  ugly  enough,  I  should  think,  to 
withstand  the  poutings  and  eye-twirlings  of 
V*  self-willed  girl.'* 

The  young  men  gazed  at  their  feet  in  a 
fever  of  embarrassment.  Elizabeth  stooped 
forward  and  rested  a  light  hand  on  her 
father's  shoulder.  '•  My  dear,"  she  mur- 
mured, "  neither  Master  Coffin  nor  Master 
Spike  are  to  blame  in  any  way  for  my  dis- 
obedient and  foolish  action  ?"'pHher  of  them 
knew  that  I  was  aboard,  or  }i;i  1  e^ti  ^o  much 


it 


1  I 


102  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


^  '. 


t 
» 

•i  . 

ti  I 


i    i 


't  'i  *  i 


as  set  eyes  on  me  — to  their  knowledge  — 
until  the  ship  was  far  out  at  sea.  They  saw 
me  come  aboard,  — but  as  I  wore  Tom's 
clothing,  and  his  great  cloak  and  boots,  and 
went  straight  to  my  cabin,  they  mistook  me 
for  him.  That,  of  course,  was  what  I  in- 
tended them  to  do." 

"  I  suspected  as  much,"  said  the  gov- 
ernor, with  a  gleam  in  his  eye  that  was  not 
of  anger.  "I'd  give  five  thousands  of  golden 
pounds,  Bess,  if  I  might  transfer  some  of 
your  spirit  to  your  brother.  Aye,  that  is 
heart 's-truth,  you  madcap!  "  He  lay  silent 
for  a  few  moments,  blinking  his  round  eyes 
at  the  deck-timber  overhead.  Then,  '*  Send 
for  Benjamin  Spike  to  come  to  me,"  he  or- 
dered, shortly. 


ii* 


?  i 


II 


CHAPTER  VIII 

TWO  GENTLEMEN   AT   ODDS 

MacAllister,  who  felt  that  his  presence 
could  well  be  spared  from  a  discussion  that 
promised  to  become  of  a  purely  family  na- 
ture, took  it  upon  himself  to  find  Master 
Spike  and  send  him  to  the  governor.  He 
was  glad  of  an  excuse  to  get  out  of  the  cabin ; 
but  rather  for  the  girl's  sake  than  for  his 
own.  He  felt  how  awkward  for  her  must  be 
the  presence  of  a  stranger  at  her  father's 
exposure  of  family  troubles.  So  he  all  but 
ran  from  the  cabin  and  slammed  the  door 
behind  him  as  if  an  imp  of  darkness  were 
at  his  heels.  He  found  Spike  on  the  fore- 
castle-deck, gazing  shoreward  in  feigned  ab- 
sorption. 

**  Welcome  back  to  Bristol's  Hope,"  clap- 
ping the  old  navigator  on  the  back  and  then 
grasping  his  hand  with  the  utmost  cordiality. 
An*  a  right  queer  welcome  yeVe  give 

103 


<( 


',1  : 


II  >i 


?;!. 


I 


\  I 


,  I 


lit  !l 

'111 


i  ii 


n 


■I; 


.1 


■i"  * 


■1. 


104  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 

me,  Master  MacAllister, "  returned  Spike, 
**  what  with  the  governor  boardin'  me  like 
a  raginVroarin'  lion,  so  to  speak,  seekin' 
whom  he  may  devour,  as  the  Scriptures  has 
it,  an'  layin'  holt  o'  poor  Master  Coffin  as  if 
he  would  make  an  end  o'  him,  an'  then  fallin' 
on  the  deck  in  as  furious  a  fit  as  ever  I  see. 
Aye,  a  rare,  warm  welcome,  master,  ye  may 
well  name  it  I  Then  over  the  side  comes  you 
an'  your  rascals,  with  cold  iron  in  your  fists 
like  so  many  Sally  Rovers,  ready  to  spit  us 
all  like  Christmas  geese." 

MacAllister  laughed.  **  I'll  explain  it  to 
you  later,  Benjamin;  but  now  the  governor 
wants  a  word  with  you  in  the  cabin." 

'*  Lord  help  me!  "  exclaimed  the  mariner. 

Spike  went  to  the  cabin  feeling  that  he*d 
far  rather  walk  into  a  den  of  thieves.  Cap 
in  hand,  he  stood  before  the  governor.  The 
great  man  gazed  up  at  him  for  some  time 
without  speaking.  At  last  he  said,  "  What 
do  you  think  you  are,  Benjamin  —  an  honest 
shipmaster  or  a  military  ruffler  from  the  TiOw 
Country  wars?  Where  is  your  fine  wide 
beard?    And  why  are  your  great  mustaches 


Two  Gentlemen  at  Odds 


105 


curling  up  against  your  nose?  Rip  me,  Ben- 
jamin, but  an  amazing  change  has  come  over 
you  I  What  d'you  mean  by  it,  man?  Is  it 
for  the  better  sailing  of  the  ship  and  the 
better  serving  of  the  Company?  " 

"  Your  worship,"  returned  Spike,  **  I 
made  so  bold  as  to  trim  up  my  whiskers  a 
bit  in  honor  o'  the  lady  who  came  across  as 
our  passenger.  I  meant  no  harm  by  it,  your 
worship." 

"  You,  too!  "  exclaimed  the  governor,  in 
mock  severity.  **  You,  Benjamin  Spike,  with 
grandsons  sailing  the  seas,  trimming  your 
whiskers  with  the  intent  of  catching  the  eye 
of  a  young  lady.  Tut,  tut,  man!  I  thought 
you  were  old  and  ugly  enough  to  have  more 
sense.  I'll  wager,  now,  you  spent  your  time 
in  writing  poetry  instead  of  your  log-book." 

"  Ye  be  in  the  wrong  of  it  there,  your  wor- 
ship, '  replied  Spike,  gravely.  "  I  but  tried 
to  make  myself  look  less  rough,  so  that  the 
young  lady  might  feel  the  more  at  her  ease 
while  seated  at  table  with  me.  As  for  poetry, 
I  leave  it  for  them  as  has  nought  else  to  do." 


,!• 


**  An  honest  answer,  by  my  wig  I  "  ex- 


I. 


.:1 


ft 


\i 


t  ' 


j! 


!:':-i|l 


t".  i , 


*  Jl 


m 


106  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


claimed  the  governor.  "  You  are  forgiven, 
Benjamin,  for  the  trimming  of  your  whisk- 
ers. But  tell  me  now,  if  you  can,  how  it 
comes  that  my  daughter  is  here  in  the  colony 
of  Bristol's  Hope  and  my  son  remains  in 
Bristol?  " 

*'I  have  explained  that,  father!'*  cried 
Elizabeth. 

**  Silence,  child.  I  desire  to  hear  Master 
Spike's  expianation,"  said  Duwaney,  sha- 
king a  fat  finger  at  her. 

"  Your  worship,"  said  Spike,  deliberately, 
"  I  can  make  no  fine  tale  o'  the  matter.  T 
can't  explain  it,  sir.  The  young  lady  wanted 
to  come  —  an'  T  made  so  bold  as  to  think 
ye'd  be  glad  to  clap  eyes  on  her  again.  Also, 
your  worship,  old  Ben  Spike  has  a  heart  in 
his  breast  —  an'  no  man  with  a  heart,  be  he 
old  or  young,  ugly  or  handsome,  simple  or 
jrenllo,  could  refuse  a  wish  o'  that  beautiful 
vouTia-  ladv's.  I'd  have  give  her  the  whole 
blessed  ship  if  she'd  wanted  it,  your  wor- 
ship." 

"  This  is  all  very  irregulnr,"  said  the  gov- 
ernor, trying  hard  to  conceal  his  satisfaction 


m^nviiwvnai 


MMH 


MMM 


Two  Gentlemen  at  Odds 


107 


at  the  old  shipmaster's  praise  of  his  daugh- 
ter. Well  he  knew  the  old  man's  keenness 
of  vision  into  the  human  heart  and  honesty 
of  utterance,  and  praise  from  him  he  knew 
to  be  of  more  value  than  from  many  a  be- 
ribboned  courtier.  "As  to  giving  her  tlie 
ship,  Benjamin  —  why,  'twould  be  a  piratical 
deed,  and  I'd  have  to  pay  for  it.  But  I'll 
say  nothing  more  to  you  about  this  matter, 
for  I  see  that  the  girl  alone  is  to  blame  and 
that  men  who  are  capable  of  withstanding 
the  cannon  and  cutlasses  of  pirates  are  as 
putty  in  the  hands  of  a  clever  girl.  But  to 
oblige  me,  Benjamin,  kindly  let  your  whisk- 
ers expand  sideways  again  and  haul  the 
points  of  your  mustaches  out  of  your  eyes." 

And  that  was  the  end  of  the  governor's 
open  displeasure  over  the  matter  of  his 
daughter's  arrival  in  the  place  of  his  son. 

At  an  early  hour  of  the  morning  following 
the  "  Grood  Fortune's  "  arrival  in  the  little 
harbor  of  Bristol's  Hope,  far  up  the  great 
Bay  of  Conception,  Harold  Coffin  stood  in 
the  ship's  waist,  with  his  elbows  on  the  gun- 
wale, and  gazed  shoreward  at  the  primitive 


f 


if 


i    ■    ■ 


1  i 


I  If 


11 


^tmmmm 


i; 

■ » 


r: 


108 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


buildings  of  the  little  settlement.  Particu- 
larly did  he  fix  his  glance  on  the  largest  of 
the  houses,  for  that  was  the  residence  of  the 
governor.  The  house  was  low  and  long,  with 
a  door  and  four  small  windows  facing  the 
water  and  a  squat  chimney  at  each  end.  In 
the  east  the  light  was  growing  and  flooding 
into  the  little  anchorage  from  the  gleaming 
wastes  of  the  outer  bay.  What  the  fisher- 
folk  call  a  '*  loom  "  was  on  the  water.  The 
ship  with  her  furled  sails  and  taut  cables, 
the  skiffs  and  bullies  swinging  at  the  weed- 
hung  stairs,  the  rocks  and  the  fish-flakes  at 
the  edge  of  the  crystal  tide  were  all  as  if 
they  hung  in  air.  By  some  strange  trick  of 
light  and  atmosphere  everything  seemed  to 
swim  at  twice  its  actual  height  from  the 
water.  This  was  not  due  to  inverted  reflec- 
tions —  but  to  what  it  was  due  go  ask  some 
ancient  fisherman  or  some  youthful  scientist. 
I'll  wager  that  their  explanations  of  the  phe- 
nomenon will  differ  as  widely  as  east  is  from 
west. 

The  light  grew  steadily,  evenly,  as  if  a 
wind  of  ethereal  flame  blew  in  from  the 


!♦  ' 


!«: 


Two  Gentlemen  at  Odds 


109 


golden  reaches  of  the  Atlantic  without  sound 
and  without  perceptible  motion.  The  sky- 
above  the  rocks  and  climbing  forests  of  fir 
was  washed  from  slate  gray  to  frailest  blue. 
The  treetops  up  the  river,  the  rough  tidges 
of  the  barren  above  the  low  cliffs  and  the 
chimneys  and  roofs  of  the  houses  glowed  as 
if  tipped  with  saffron  fire.  Azure  streamers 
ascended  straight  and  unbroken  from  the 
quiet  habitations.  Now  even  the  governor's 
chimneys  offered  their  sacrifice  to  the  morn- 
ing. Soon  a  pleasant  sound  of  homely  occu- 
pations drifted  across  the  water  from  the 
hamlet  to  the  ship.  Men  came  down  to  the 
land-wash,  the  skiffs  and  bullies  were  un- 
tethered  and  headed  for  the  open  bay.  From 
the  dark  of  the  fir-woods  beyond  the  mouth 
of  the  little  river  came  the  cheery  chant  of 
the  axes. 

Harold  Coffin,  gazing  at  the  governor's 
house,  took  little  note  of  these  things.  He 
was  sunk  deep  in  meditations  that  were  at 
once  sweet  and  bitter. 

An  hour  later,  Coflfin  went  ashore.  Donald 
MacAllister   met   him   on   the   shingle   and 


i 


;^ 


110  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


iif 


'I  '    i  '       . 


m. 


»i 


1^1 


walked  up  tho  path  with  him  to  the  door  of 
the  governor's  house.    Though  these  young 
men  had  spent  several  months  of  the  pre- 
vious  summer  together  in  this   same  out- 
corner  of  the  world,  working,  exploring  and 
hunting  in  company,  evidently  in  the  best  of 
agreement  and  good-fellowship,  yet  no  unde- 
niable flame  of  friendship  had  sprung  up  in 
their  hearts.     Coffin  had  no  such  feeling  of 
comradeship    toward    the    Scot   as   he   had 
toward  John  Percy  — yet  he  and  Percy  had 
been  comrades  for  little  more  than  ten  days 
amid  the  toil  and  excitements  of  a  military 
campaign.    With  a  man  like  Percy,  as  with 
a  half  dozen  others  he  could  name,  he  would 
share  a  last  loaf  or  a  full  purse,  a  blanket, 
glory  or  death  with  unshaken  good  humor; 
but  he  had  no  desire  to  share  anything  with 
Master  Donald  MacAllister.    He  could  find 
no  explanation  for  this.    He  knew  of  nothing 
against  MacAllister  and  did  not  suspect  that 
there  was  anything  against  him.     The  Scot 
was  brave,  capable  and  industrious.    Ho  had 
sailed  a  voyage  with  the  groat  Raloij^h  —  a 
more  or  less  uneventful  voyage,  'tis  true  — 


r.i- 

II 


Two  Gentlemen  at  Odds 


111 


and  had  not  been  found  wanting.  Perhaps 
the  Scot  was  too  evidently  proud  of  his  big, 
strong,  flawless  body  and  his  musty  family; 
but  with  the  last  weakness,  or  fault  of  char- 
acter, Coffin  could  find  nothing  wrong,  for 
both  he  and  Percy  could  show  pride  of  blood 
with  any  bare-legged  Highlander  from  the 
rocks.  But  this  pride  of  robust  health,  dis- 
played in  every  glance  and  gesture  —  this, 
beyond  a  doubt,  stuck  in  poor  Master  Coffin's 
crop  more  sickeningly  than  a  knowledge  of 
crime. 

Why  MacAllister  did  not  feel  a  warm 
friendship  for  Coffin  is,  perhaps,  less  difficult 
to  understand.  Poor  as  they  were,  his  rea- 
sons were  positive.  He  disliked  the  thin 
youth's  personal  appearance.  He  disliked 
his  eyes,  his  narrow  chest,  and  his  occa- 
sional long-winded  stories  of  his  remarkable 
swordsmanship.  Having  heard  from  other 
sources  that  these  stories  were  true  he  dis- 
liked them  all  the  more  heartily.  He  could 
acknowledge,  without  rancor,  the  prowess  of 
a  big,  deep-chested  cavalier;  but  to  know 
that  a  frail,  unhealthy  lad  like  Harold  Coffin 


■•'•    1 


iiBiM 


«« 


l!         U 


>  -■*  ■ 


M'l 


I: 


iri 

Mi 


j'i 


;,l 


112  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


was  his  equal  in  any  manly  accomplishment 
went  sorely  against  his  pride. 

These  two  young  men  walked  elbow  to 
elbow  across  the  rocky  beach  and  up  the 
narrow  path  to  the  governor's  door.    They 
smiled  at  each  other  and  asked  and  replied 
to  questions  with  charming  affability.     But 
MacAUister  was  out  of  spirits.    In  his  bud- 
get of  news  from  home,  which  he  had  spent 
half  the  night  in  reading,  he  had  learned  of 
the  execution  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.     The 
thought  of  it  lay  like  a  burden  on  his  mind, 
for  he  had  sailed  with  that  great  man  and 
known  him  in  the  height  of  his  energy  and 
glory.     But  pride  — Scotch  pride  —  forbade 
his  speaking  of  the  tragedy  to  his  companion. 
Coffin   had   never   sailed   with    Sir   Walter. 
MacAUister  did  not  want  either  his  pity  or 
his  views  on  the  matter. 

At  the  door  the  Scot  turned  aside,  for  he 
was  on  his  way  to  the  woods  where  the  chop- 
pers were  at  work.  But  Coffin  made  a  re- 
mark that  brought  him  back, 

"  We  received  a  visit  from  Captain  John 
Percy,  of  the  *  Jaguar,'  "  he  said. 


Two  Gentlemen  at  Odds 


113 


"Tercy!"  exclaimed  the  other.  "He 
was  my  commander.  I  made  a  voyage  to  the 
Orinoco  aboard  the  '  Jaguar.'  " 

This  was  old  news  to  Harold,  who  had 
heard  it  several  times  during  the  previous 
summer  and  always  somewhat  in  the  manner 
of  a  boast.  He  was  tired  of  this  boast  of 
one  uneventful  voyage. 

•*  What  did  he  want  with  the  '  Good  For- 
tune '?  "  asked  the  Scot. 

'*  He  came  aboard  to  see  me,"  replied  Cof- 
fin. '*  We  were  both  of  Bragg 's  Brigade,  in 
the  Low  Countries,  some  years  ago." 

This  was  no  news  to  Donald,  who  had 
heard  it  before  from  the  same  source.  He 
had  never  fought  in  the  Low  Countries  him- 
self —  nor  anywhere  else,  for  that  matter  — 
and  was  not  interested  in  the  subject. 
**  How  did  he  know  you  were  aboard?  "  he 
asked. 

"  The  truth  is,  T  told  him  so  myself,*'  re- 
plied the  other,  smiling.  "  He  overhauled 
us  and  sent  a  round-shot  after  us,  evidently 
mistaking  the  *  Good  Fortune  *  for  some- 
thing else.     When  we  came  within  hailing 


V,    i 

'J. 


5    f 


i  .1 


114  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


1 


m 


iP 


rt 


distance  things  took  a  change  for  the  hetter. 
Percy  and  two  of  liis  gentlemen  came  and 
had  wine  with  us;  and  tiiroughout  the  re- 
mainder of  the  trip  the  '  Jaguar  '  kept  us  in 
sight,  for  protective  purposes,  until  we  got 
well  inside  the  bay." 

"  "Where  was  he  bound  fori  "  iucpiired 
MacAllister,  in  wonder. 

**  That  would  be  hard  to  say,"  replied 
Harold,  *'  for  he  has  cast  his  fortunes  on  tho 
high  seas  and  iiolds  neither  himself  nor  his 
ship  responsible  to  any  man.  Our  old  com- 
rade is  one  of  these  erring  captains  of  which 
the  world  is  now  beginning  to  talk." 

**  A  pirate,  d'ye  mean?  "  exclaimed  Don- 
ald. 

*'  No,  T  should  not  give  him  that  dishon- 
orable name,"  replied  the  other.  "  He  has 
robbed,  I  think,  but  never  shed  innocent 
blood.  He  fights  as  honestly  now  as  ever  he 
fought.  He  preys  upon  tho  pirates  even  as 
an  eagle  may  prey  upon  a  hawk.  The  hum- 
ble little  merchant-ships  go  free  of  him,  or 
at  most  contribute  n  few  pounds  of  provisions 
to  his  stores.    John  Percy  strikes  high,  look- 


Two  Gentlemen  at  Odds 


115 


ing  fearlessly  for  game  worthy  of  his  repu- 
tation and  the  guns  and  spirit  of  his  ship. 
Embittered  by  the  unjust  death  of  his 
old  captain  —  and  yours  —  he  engaged  the 
King's  ship  *  Heroic  '  and  trount-ed  her  so 
severely  that  she  was  thankful  to  be  allowed 
to  crawl  away." 

'*  A  shij)  of  King  James's!  The  poor  fel- 
low must  be  mad!  "  exclaimed  Donald  Mac- 
Allister. 

'*  lie  considers  the  violent  death  to  which 
Sir  "Walter  was  brought  as  nothing  other 
tlian  murder.  In  fighting  the  *  Heroic  '  lie 
felt  that  he  was  striking  a  blow  at  the  mur- 
derer," said  Coffin,  quietly. 

**  It  is  treason  —  high  treason,"  whis- 
pered the  Scotchman.  **  I  should  have  given 
Percy,  my  old  captain,  credit  for  more  loy- 
alty and  strength  of  character  than  to  thus 
turn  traitor  to  his  king  for  a  private  cause. 
Yes,  a  private  cause,  no  matter  how  pitiful 
it  may  be.  T,  too,  have  loved  that  gentle 
knight.  Blithely  would  I  have  faced  death 
for  him.  But  T  do  not  say  ijea  or  nay  to  the 
king's  action.    Who  am  T  to  judge  the  work 


i 


I  -' 


'.  ,  I 


^1 


I     I 


ii 


■ « ■ 


1' 


116 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


of  my  liege  lord  and  sovereign  —  and  who 
is  John  Percy  to  judge  it?  " 

*'  Raleigh  was  his  friend,"  said  Colin, 

*•  And  King  James?  " 

**  I  fear  that  His  Majesty  is  guilty  of 
weakness  rather  than  of  viciousness.  He  is 
the  tool  of  unscrupulous  courtiers." 

Donald  MacAllister  stared  at  the  speaker 
in  amazement  and  anger.  He  could  scarce 
believe  his  ears.  **  Are  you  speaking  of  the 
king?  "  he  asked. 

"  Of  the  king  and  no  other  —  God  save 
His  Majesty  and  enlighten  his  wits,"  replied 
Harold  Coffin,  with  composure. 

**  It  seems  to  me,  Master  Coffin,  that  your 
wits  are  more  in  need  of  enlightenment  than 
His  Majesty's,"  said  MacAllister. 

**  Which  concerns  nobody  but  myself  and 
my  friends.  No  foolishness  of  mine  could 
ever  result  in  such  a  crime  against  individual 
and  national  rights  as  the  ex'9cution  of  Sir 
"Walter  Raleigh,"  returned  Coffin,  gazing 
steadily  upward  into  the  other's  face. 

"  Have  a  care!  "  cried  the  Scot.  **  This 
sounds  like  treason!  " 


I 


Two  Gentlemen  at  Odds 


117 


"  Better  treason  against  one's  foreign- 
bred  king  than  against  a  comrade  and 
friend,"  replied  Harold  Coffin. 

For  a  little  while  the  two  young  men  stood 
motionless  and  silent,  staring  into  each 
other's  eyes.  Then  Donald  MacAllister 
turned  and  strode  away.  With  a  deep  sigh 
—  whether  of  relief  or  disappointment  who 
shall  say  —  Harold  Coffin  rapped  on  the  door 
of  the  governor's  house  with  his  gloved 
knuckles. 


'  " 


;■ 


i  4 

■    i 


!i 


CHAPTER   IX 


:   Vl 


;«  1 


THE   UNWELCOME   VISITORS 

Master  Duwaney  was  in  his  bed,  still  suf- 
fering from  the  excitement  and  loss  of  blood 
of  the  day  before.  It  was  Elizabeth  who 
brought  his  regrets  to  Harold.  They  talked 
together  for  a  few  minates  in  a  friendly  but 
commonplace  manner.  The  girl  said  that 
she  already  lov^ed  Bristol's  Hope  but  sorely 
missed  Master  Coffin  and  Master  Spike  from 
the  breakfast  table.  Harold  kept  his  eyes 
from  her  face  and  allowed  neither  her  voice 
nor  her  words  to  strike  deeper  than  his  ears. 
He  felt  nervous  and  restless.  As  if  the  hope- 
less love  for  the  girl  were  not  enough  for 
him  to  bear  now  the  aggrav^ating  discussion 
with  the  Scotchman  had  given  a  fresh  shock 
to  his  nerves.  Pleading  the  need  of  his  help 
aboard  the  ship,  where  the  work  of  discharg- 
ing the  stores  had  already  commenced,  he 
excused  himself  to  the  girl  and  went  away. 

118 


The  Unwelcome  Visitors  119 


Pausing  at  the  top  of  the  path  that  led  down 
to  tlie  shingle,  he  noticed  three  small  vessels 
in  the  bay  bearing  in  toward  the  harbor  of 
Bristol's  Hope.  In  these  times  and  in  these 
waters,  three  strange  shii)s,  no  matter  how 
innocent  in  appearance,  claimed  the  attention 
on  sight.  After  one  glance,  Coffin  continued 
to  descend  the  path,  but  at  a  quickened  pace. 
Just  as  he  readied  the  land-wash  MacAllis- 
ter  and  six  of  his  men  came  upon  it  by  an- 
other route.  The  men  still  carried  their 
axes  in  their  hands;  but  the  Scot  had  a 
musket  across  his  shoulder. 

**  What  do  you  expect?  "  asked  Coffin. 

*' Ti  Devon  fishermen  —  our  worst  ene- 
mies," .jplied  MacAllister. 

'*  Then  I  suppose  the  discharging  of  the 
cargo  had  better  be  stopped  for  an  hour  or 
so,  until  we  know  more  of  these  fellows'  in- 
tentions! " 

"  T  should  recommend  it,  certainly.  And 
will  you  be  so  kind  as  to  tell  our  men  and 
boats  to  pull  ashore  iinmediately." 

The  "  Good  Fortune's  "  gig  was  still  at 
the  edge  of  the  tide,  with  two  of  the  ship's 


't 


!.' 


m 


i 


)\ 


\ 


120 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


l. 


- 'I, 


■  v> 


crew  standing  beside  her  bow.  Coffin  ran 
to  her  and  sprang  aboard.  The  men,  without 
waiting  for  any  word  of  command,  pushed 
the  little  boat  off  the  pebbles,  sprang  in  and 
took  their  places  on  the  thwarts.  They  bent 
their  backs  to  the  heavy  oars  with  a  will, 
sniffing  excitement  in  the  mild,  sunlit  air. 
As  the  gig  raced  under  the  ship's  stern  and 
swung  around  it,  the  boats  that  had  been  at 
work  ferrying  the  stores  pushed  clear  and 
headed  shoreward,  weighted  gunwale-deep. 
They,  too,  had  read  the  situation  at  a  glance. 

Spike  met  Coffin  the  moment  he  sprang 
from  the  rail  to  the  deck.  A  cutlass  was 
belted  to  his  great  thigh.  **  Ye  may  take 
my  word  for  it  that  yonder  come  three  o' 
these  accursed  fishin'  admirals,*'  he  ex- 
claimed, pointing  seaward. 

"  But  the  day  of  those  gentry  is  gone. 
The  reign  of  the  fishing  admiral  is  dead," 
replied  Harold,  though  he  put  no  faith  in  the 
statement  which  he  so  glibly  made.  Though 
a  law  of  the  Crown,  he  knew  it  to  be  but  lit- 
tle more  than  a  theory,  owing  to  the  strength 
and  impudence  and  greed  of  the  West  Coun- 


ii,. 

n 


The  Unwelcome  Visitors 


121 


try  fishermen.  Only  in  those  harbors  in 
which  the  planters  were  stronger  than  the 
fishers  did  the  new  and  enlightened  law  hold 
good. 

"  The  day  o'  the  high-handed,  high-bellied 
fishin'  admirals  be  gone  — on  paper,"  re- 
plied Spike,  bitterly.  "  But  I  tell  ye,  mas- 
ter, they  care  no  more  for  paper  laws  than 
for  empty  pistols.  If  we  don't  let  'em  have 
a  squint  at  the  muzzles  o'  our  big  guns 
they'll  be  dumpin'  their  ballast  into  the  an- 
chorage afore  a  half -hour  be  gone." 

**  I  agree  with  you,  Benjamin.  I'll  go  the 
rounds  now  and  see  that  the  pieces  are  ready 
to  show  to  advantage  at  any  moment,"  said 
the  commander.  "  These  greedy,  lawless 
fellows  are  from  my  own  country ;  but  I  am 
firm  for  the  plantations." 

*'  For  my  part,"  replied  Spike,  "  I  like  a 
full-fledged,  glass-chawin ',  blood-spittin'  pi- 
rate better  nor  these  harbor-hogs  o'  fishin' 
admirals.  They'll  rob  as  quick,  an'  kill  as 
quick  as  any  Sally  Rover  — an'  they'll  set 
lire  to  a  plantation  for  Jhe  sake  o'  a  quintal 
o'fish." 


.. 


): 


i 


1 

M 


»r 


It-;: 

Si  •».• 

1 


1  ♦;'! 


1 1 


122 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


Harold  looked  to  his  batteries,  found  them 
all  in  good  order,  and  then  took  up  a  position 
on  the  poop  from  which  he  had  a  clear  view 
of  the  approaching  vessels.  Th'^y  were 
blunt-nosed  craft,  of  two  masts  with  heavy 
yards  and  wide,  weather  stained  sails.  They 
were  low  amidships,  but  raised  fore  and  aft 
to  the  height  of  two  decks.  They  rode  high 
in  ballast.  They  raced  in  on  a  fair,  brisk 
wind,  with  not  more  than  half  a  mile  from 
the  bow  of  the  leader  to  the  stern  of  the  hind- 
most. That  they  were  West  Country  fishing 
ships  but  newly  arrived  on  the  coast,  and 
therefore  eager  to  find  anchorage,  harbor- 
room  for  boats  and  stages  and  convenient 
fishing  grounds,  Harold  entertained  not  a 
shadow  of  doubt. 

Soon  the  leader  of  the  three  new  arrivals 
began  to  lessen  sail  and  «peed,  and  swam 
easily  into  the  harbor  of  Bristol's  Hope  and 
let  an  anchor  splash  down  from  her  star- 
board bow  with  a  fine  air  of  assurance.  Then 
a  square  of  blue  bunting  crawled  up  to  her 
mast-head  and  flapped  impudently  in  the 
wind.    At  that  old  Spike,  who  had  joined  the 


i.l: 


l\ 


V4^«^. 


liMiMi 


The  Unwelcome  Visitors 


123 


commander  on  the  poop,  clapped  his  great 
right  paw  on  the  rail. 

"  What  did  I  tell  ye?  "  he  cried.  **  'Tis 
the  flag  c'  the  harbor  admiral!  " 

Coffin  laughed.  But  he  was  puzzled. 
**  But  even  if  the  old  laws  concerning  such 
matters  still  held,  the  *  Good  Fortune  '  would 
be  the  flag-ship  of  the  harbor,  being  the  first 
ship  in,"  he  said. 

*'  Not  by  the  old  law,"  replied  Spike. 
**  The  old,  dead  law  called  for  a  fishin'  ship 
—  an'  they'd  class  us  as  a  supply  ship." 

**  The  governor  will  be  in  danger  of  an- 
other seizure  when  he  discovers  the  audacity 
of  these  bold  visitors,  * '  remarked  Harold. 

"  Aye,  'twill  rouse  him  worse  nor  drop- 
pin'  a  keg  on  to  his  sore  toe,"  returned  the 
other. 

Up  in  the  governor's  house  the  trouble  had 
already  begun.  The  first  word  of  the  sight- 
ing of  the  three  strange  vessels  had  roused 
Master  Duwaney  to  a  sitting  posture  in  his 
snug  bed.  The  word  that  the  leading  ship 
had  actually  entered  the  harbor  of  Bristol's 
Hope,  without  so  much  as  "by  your  leave," 


!  k 


^  f! 


mm 


1S4 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


If*  '^^ 


i: 

■  i' 

■f 


9 

S; 

ft 
I') 


Im'' 


C  I 


I:- 


I 


:  M 
i  »■■ 
1  . . 


t  kti 


I! 

li:'. 


had  sent  the  wo  'thy  magistrate  hobbling  to 
the  window.  Tne  sight  of  the  blue  flag  — 
the  flag  of  the  harbor  admiral  —  had  driven 
all  memory  of  yesterday's  loss  of  blood  from 
the  governor's  mind.  He  shouted  fcr  Mas- 
ter MacAllister;  he  shouted  for  Elizabeth; 
he  bundled  himself  in  blankets  and  swore 
he'd  not  dress  himself  properly  until  the  im- 
pudent fisherman  had  learned  the  power  of 
the  Company,  the  colony  and  the  governor. 

Elizabeth  was  the  first  to  come  to  his  cry, 
and  was  sent  away  to  find  the  lieutenant. 
The  lieutenant  soon  appeared,  looking  al- 
most as  indignant  as  his  superior. 

"  They've  begun  to  throw  their  ballast 
over  — in  the  anchorage!"  he  exclaimed. 
"  They  were  warned  from  the  ship,  but  paid 
no  heed.  And  now  the  second  has  come  to 
anchor  and  run  up  the  flag  of  the  vice-ad- 
miral." 

*'  Give  me  my  sword,"  bellowed  the  gov- 
ernor. "  Give  me  my  stick,  and  your  arm 
as  well.  And  my  wig  and  hat.  Where  is 
the  commission?  Bring  it  along,  together 
with  the  laws   and  the  bylaws.     Eip  me! 


The  Unwelcome  Visitors 


lU 


but  they'll  discover  who  is  governor  here, 
and  who  owns  this  harbor  I  " 

Swathed  in  robes  and  blankets,  with  his 
gold  sword-belt  buckled  around  his  great 
waist  and  his  lame  foot  wrapped  in  flannel 
and  the  other  in  a  boot,  with  a  powdered  wig 
on  his  head  and  a  cocked  hat  atop  that,  lean- 
ing heavily  on  MacAllister's  arm  and  stri- 
king the  ground  wit'  the  iron-shod  point  of 
his  stick,  the  governor  issued  forth  to  strike 
dismay  and  a  knowledge  of  the  law  into  the 
hearts  of  those  high-bellied  men  of  Devon. 
MacAllister  carried  a  copy  of  the  Company's 
charter,  Duwaney's  commission,  the  laws  of 
England  and  the  laws  and  bylaws  of  the 
colony.  And  he  had  a  sword  at  his  hip  and 
a  brace  of  pistols  in  his  belt,  though  he  had 
no  hand  to  clap  to  them  at  the  moment. 

The  men  of  the  colony,  numbering  twenty 
in  all,  were  on  the  shingle.  Half  of  them 
were  already  fully  armed  with  muskets  ind 
cutlasses,  and  the  rest  were  only  awaiting 
the  order  to  run  for  their  weapons.  At  sight 
of  the  governor,  and  in  spite  of  his  amazing 
appearance,  they  pulled  off  their  caps  and 


ff 


A 


mH 


t  > 


I 

■■»■'• 


?-i 


m 


iS 


P  '• 


I  I 


I*- 
I' 


126  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


cheered.  At  the  same  moment,  the  "  Good 
Fortune's  "  gig  touched  tiie  beach  and  Bob 
Sill,  master's  mate,  sprang  ashore  and  hur- 
ried up  to  the  governor. 

*'  Master  Coffin  has  sent  me  to  learn  your 
worship's  pleasure  and  to  get  your  worship's 
orders  concerning  these  trespassers,"  he 
said,  bowing  three  times  to  Duwaney  and 
twice  to  MacAJlister. 

*'  Tell  him  to  stand  to  his  guns  and  await 
further  orders,"  replied  the  governor.  Bob 
Sill  bowed  again,  returned  to  the  gig  and  so 
back  to  the  "  Good  Fortune,"  thinking  he'd 
made  a  trip  ashore  to  very  little  purpose  — 
for  the  gimners  had  been  at  their  stations 
for  the  last  twenty  minutes.  The  governor 
and  his  lieutenant  entered  the  largest  of  the 
plantation's  skiffs,  and  with  four  stout  lads 
at  the  oars  and  another  holding  aloft  the 
red  and  gold  flag  of  the  Company  in  the 
bows,  pulled  out  toward  the  innermost  of 
the  three  unwelcome  vessels.  By  this  time 
the  third  of  the  visitors  had  crowded  into  the 
harbor  and  let  go  her  anchor.  From  the 
little  settlement,  from  the  strip  of  shingle, 


The   'Jnwclcoinc  Visitors 


127 


from  the  "  Good  Fortune  "  and  the  deck8 
of  the  bold  invaders,  the  governor's  boat 
was  watched  with  keen  interest  and  various 
emotions. 

At  a  iiod  from  the  governor  the  skiff  lay- 
motionless,  distant  about  thirty  yards  from 
the  lawless  brig  "  Peep  0'  Day."  Over  the 
side  of  the  shameless  brig  the  ballast  was 
still  Hying  and  splashing.  Duwaney  got 
painfully  to  his  feet  in  the  stern-sheets  of 
the  skiff,  about  to  hail  the  brig  with  his  own 
authoritative  voice.  But  there  was  no  limit 
to  the  impudence  of  these  fish-hungry  in- 
vaders. Even  as  Duwaney  opened  his  mouth 
a  husky  voice  from  the  brig  roared,  "  Boat 
ahoy!  What  boat  be  +hat?  An'  who  be  the 
fat  old  lady  in  the  cocked  hat?  " 

A  silence  followed  during  which  the  wind 
seemed  to  baffle  and  the  sunlight  to  tremble. 
Donald  MacAllister  gasped.  The  governor 
grew  purple  in  the  face.  Suddenly  his  voice 
got  clear  of  his  throat. 

**  This  is  Bristol's  Hope  I  "  he  roared, 
"  and  I  am  Thomas  Duwaney,  the  governor. 
I  give  you  five  minutes  in  which  to  get  your 


n 


■  l 

ll  ■■» 


HI  t 


i 


ll! 


1^ 


128 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


auchors  up  and  twenty  niiniilcs  to  get  out 
of  this  harhor.  Lads,  pull  'round  and  back 
to  shore." 

As  the  skitT  turned  and  gathered  way  the 
same  voice  cried  from  the  brig,  "  Ye  look  as 
if  ye'd  hopped  out  o'  bed  in  a  desi)erate 
hurry,  Tom.  Mind  the  wind  don't  carry 
away  them  blankets." 

Rage  shook  the  governor  and  he  sat  down 
heavily.  Donald  could  think  of  nothir.-  to 
say.  The  men  at  the  oars  kept  their  eyes 
upon  th^  bottom  of  the  boat  or  the  sky  over- 
head. Duwaney  twisted  himself  around  and 
glared  back  at  the  brig.  "  T  mean  what  I 
say,  you  rascals,"  he  bellowed. 

**  Ye  flabby  oyster  o'  a  figger-head!  Ye 
keg-paunched  mistake  for  a  governor!  Ye 
bull-voiced,  cliicken-hearted  mattress  o'  a 
blue-nosed  alderman!  Go  back  to  bed  —  or 
ye '11  be  carried  there  for  the  last  time!  I 
be  admiral  o'  this  here  harbor  for  the  nex* 
seven  daj's,  an'  I  care  no  more  nor  a  snap  o' 
my  fingers  for  you  nor  your  company," 
bawled  the  ill-mannered  ruffian  on  the  **  Peep 
O'  Dav." 


^m 


The  Unwelcome  Visitors  129 

The  governor  trembled,  but  from  the 
agony  of  his  rage  could  find  neither  words 
nor  voice  for  reply.  But  he  managed  to  wave 
a  shaking  hand  toward  the  "  Good  Fortune." 
The  skiff  ran  close  under  the  ship's  bows. 
Coffin  looked  over  the  rail.  *'  What  orders, 
sir!  "  he  asked. 

Duwaney  tried  to  speak,  but  managed 
nothing  more  intelligible  than  a  gurgle. 
MacAllister  looked  at  him  keenly  and  then 
up  at  the  commander  of  the  ship.  **  You'll 
please  show  your  teeth  to  them,  Master  Cof- 
fin," he  cried.  '*  And  ye'd  better  let  fly  a 
round  or  two,  high  and  harmless. ' ' 

The  governor  nodded,  in  confirmation  of 
his  subaltern's  words,  and  Coffin  waved  his 
hat  and  disappeared  from  the  ship's  rail. 

That  side  of  the  **  Good  Fortune  "  which 
lay  toward  the  "  Peep  O'  Day  "  lifted  two 
heavy  lids,  like  :  ne  fabulous  monster  awa- 
k«ined  from  sleep,  and  full  upon  the  brig  dis- 
closed two  staring  eyes  the  pupils  of  which 
were  muzzles  of  great  guns. 

"  An  ancient  trick,"  remarked  the  master 
of  the  brig  to  his  mate.    **  Their  furious  can- 


»a 


t«»£-  HI jmnt!utfc----.,Mu ^fc 


m  "  ^ 


■  ,  1  '•^. 


130 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


non  be  no  more  nor  logs  o'  painted  and 
graven  timber.  She  carries  no  piece  greater 
nor  a  falconet." 

This  had  been  true  of  the  **  Good  For- 
tune "  on  her  first  voyage;  but  thanks  to 
Harold  Coffin's  foresight  and  able  statement 
of  conditions  and  requirements  to  the  Direct- 
ors in  Bristol,  it  was  true  no  longer.  The 
teeth  he  bared  to  the  would-be  harbor  ad- 
miral had  jaws  and  muscles  behind  them  and 
exceedingly  sharp  edges. 

The  master  of  the  "  Peep  O'  Day  "  spoke 
confidently,  and  his  burly  mate  heard  him 
with  faith  and  admiration.  They  leaned 
their  elbows  on  the  rail  and  grinned  across 
at  the  open  ports  of  the  "  Good  Fortune." 

**  This  here  sore-toed  marchant,  Tom  Du- 
waney,  thinks  to  fright  tliree  ships  o'  the 
AVest  Country  with  a  loud  bellow  o'  wind  an* 
two  sticks  o*  oak,"  said  the  master. 

*'  That  he  do,"  replied  the  mate,  with 
relish. 

'*  The  friglit  will  bo  t'other  way,  I'm 
thinkin',  when  we  gets  that  fine  house  o'  his 
fairly  abhize,"  said  the  master. 


;     t 


The  Unwelcome  Visitors 


181 


'*  Aye,  that  it  will,"  agreed  the  mate, 
staining  the  green  water  of  the  harbor  with 
a  liberal  contribution  of  the  juice  of  the  Vir- 
ginian weed.  Even  in  his  way  of  expecto- 
rating he  showed  that  he  was  entirely  sat- 
isfied with  himself  and  his  commander. 

"  We'll  root  out  this  here  dog-in-the- 
manger  0*  a  colony,  an'  open  this  handy  lit- 
tle harbor  to  honest  fishermen,  as  sure  as 
grog  warms  a  man's  heart  an'  puddin'  com- 
forts his  belly,"  said  the  master. 

The  mate  rolled  his  quid  between  his  jaws, 
seeking  in  his  hea\'y  mind  for  some  reply 
suitable  to  this  last  splendid  flight  of  elo- 
quence of  the  master's.  But  he  did  not  find 
what  he  sought.  The  "Good  Fortune" 
replied  instead ! 

With  one  banging,  clapping  whoop  that 
set  the  very  rocks  ashouting;  with  two  fan- 
shaped  flashes  of  yellow  flame  and  two  belch- 
ing clouds  of  white  smoke;  with  two  solid 
shot  awhistling  between  the  brig's  masts  did 
the  *'  Good  Fortune  "  make  reply  to  the 
master  of  the  **  Peep  O'  Day."  From  inso- 
lent self-assurance  the  three  brigs  fell  into 


A 


Jmm^ 


timim 


li  ■  •  i 


I;;  i 


1S2 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


the  most  desperate  state  of  confusion.  Com- 
mands were  bellowed.  Two  boats  were  low- 
ered from  each  vessel,  manned  by  unarmed 
fellows  straining  on  long  oars.  Capstans 
were  manned.  By  the  time  that  the  smoke 
of  the  ship's  guns  had  vanished  on  the  wind 
the  three  brigs  were  crawling  slowly  toward 
the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  each  towed  by  her 
own  two  boats.  Then  a  ringing,  taunting 
roar  went  up  from  the  **  Good  Fortune  " 
and  the  men  of  the  colony  clustered  on  the 
beach. 


I  ,' 


I  *>4 


ill 


^\m 


CHAPTER  X 


A  FIGHT  FOB  POSTEBITT 

The  three  brigs  cleared  the  northern  cape 
of  the  entrance  of  Bristol's  Hope,  rounding 
it  close  in-shore  and  so  vanishing  from  the 
sight  of  the  **  Good  Fortune;  "  but  from  the 
elevation  on  which  the  hamlet  stood  their 
tops  could  stni  be  seen.  It  had  been  easy 
enough  to  drive  them  oi't  of  the  harbor,  for 
nowhere  in  the  harbor  would  they  have  found 
anchorage  out  of  range  of  the  guns  of  the 
Company's  ship  — of  the  guns  that  had 
proved  themselves  to  be  cast  of  the  right 
metal.  But  now  they  were  in  free  water 
and,  owing  to  the  intervening  ridge  of  rocks, 
out  of  danger  from  the  *'  Good  Fortune's  " 
batteries.  And  yet  they  threatened  the  col- 
ony more  seriously  in  their  present  berths 
than  they  had  when  anchored  in  the  harbor. 
Until  they  commenced  open  hostilities  Di- 
waney  could  make  no  fresh  move  again 

188 


ij^ 


r 


*  \ 


l\ 


t 


134  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


them,  for  the  waters  of  the  great  bay  were 
free  to  all  honest  fishermen,  and  along  the 
unoccupied  coast  they  were  entitled  to  such 
space  as  they  might  require  for  fish-sheds 
and  drying-stages.  As  Duwaney  had  said  to 
MacAllister,  weeks  before,  in  this  respect 
the  fishers  of  Devon  were  a  greater  danger 
to  the  colonies  than  pirates  and  other 
freebooters  and  murderers  by  profession. 
Though  the  governor  felt  sure  that  these  fel- 
lows had  come  to  Bristol's  Hope  with  the 
intention  of  destroying  his  plantation,  now 
that  they  were  out  of  his  own  harbor  and 
not  actively  and  openly  striking  at  him,  he 
could  not  interfere  with  them.  If  he  should 
catch  them  discharging  their  ballast  within 
a  certain  distance  from  the  shore,  or  killing 
people  without  sufficient  reason,  or  tearing 
down  other  honest  folks'  stages  and  stores, 
his  power  as  a  magistrate  and  as  governor 
of  the  colony  would  enable  him  to  fine  them, 
to  hang  them,  to  put  them  in  irons  or  to  drive 
them  forth  from  the  Bay  of  Conception  — 
or,  at  least,  to  try  to  do  these  things.  But 
so  long  as  they  remained  in  apparent  quiet, 


f  .4 , 


ki 


A  Fight  for  Posterity 


1S5 


even  though  he  knew  they  were  planning  an 
attack  upon  him,  he  must  await  their  pleas- 
ure and  keep  the  *'  Good  Fortune  "  swinging 
idly  at  her  anchors. 

Master  Duwaney  felt  the  injustice  and  fu- 
tility of  his  position  keenly.  By  all  that  was 
reasonable  and  fair  he  should  be  allowed  to 
send  the  **  Good  Fortune  "  out  and  drive  the 
insolent  brigs  clear  over  the  horizon.  As  it 
was,  he  must  patiently  wait  for  the  men  from 
the  brigs  to  sneak  ashore  and  make  a  bloody 
attempt  at  the  overthrow  of  the  settlement. 
But  he  did  not  sit  and  twiddle  his  thumbs. 
The  insults  of  the  master  of  the  "  Peep  O' 
Day  "  had  aroused  him  far  too  thoroughly 
to  allow  of  any  inactivity  on  his  part  —  at 
least  while  they  still  held  fresh  in  his  mind. 
Accompanied  by  Donald  MacAllistcr,  he  hob- 
bled to  the  ridge  of  the  cape  and  studied  the 
three  brigs,  now  lying  peacefully  at  anchor, 
throui  'ns  telescope.  Already  a  score  of 
men  ha  landed  and  were  busy  felling  small 
fir  trees  with  which  to  construct  stages 
whereon  to  dry  their  fish. 

"  I  think  they  will  play  this  game  for  a 


i 


il: 


{:: 


n 

■ti 
ti 
•I 

i 


■0- 


136        A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 

couple  of  diys,  to  quiet  my  mind  before  they 
strike.  They  are  as  full  of  guile  as  of  impu- 
dence and  wickedness,"  said  the  governor. 

'*  If  they  would  but  fell  a  few  trees  of 
greater  dimensions,  they  would  save  us  a 
deal  of  trouble,  sir,"  remarked  MacAllister, 
gazing  sternly  down,  between  narrowed  lids, 
at  the  busy  fishermen. 

"Riddles!"  exclaimed  the  governor. 
*  *  Dang  your  riddles !  Tell  me  what  you 
mean,  lad,  in  plain  English." 

'*  Timbers  for  the  gallows-trees,"  re- 
turned the  other,  crisply. 

"  You  have  a  pretty  wit,  Donald,"  replied 
Duwauey.  "  But  I'd  enjoy  it  better  if  my 
poor  toe  wasn't  so  confounded  hot.  But 
'twas  aptly  said,  I  must  admit.  I  only  hope, 
lad,  that  'twill  be  the  deserving  ones  who 
grace  tlie  trees.  It  may  be  that  our  own 
precious  necks  get  into  the  ropes.  These 
fellows  are  bitter,  strong,  and  heart  and  soul 
against  the  peaceful  settlement  of  this  land. 
Greedy  for  to-day,  they  give  no  thought  to 
posterity.  They'd  hang  us,  quick  as  wink- 
ing, if  they  ever  got  the  upper  hand  of  us." 


m 


•n^-. 


A  Fight  for  Posterity 


137 


"  We  are  too  strong  for  them,"  replied 
the  Scot,  with  conviction  in  his  tone.  **  With 
the  guns  of  the  ship  and  the  help  of  the  crew 
we  are  too  heavy  for  them.  We  could  stand 
off  a  force  of  almost  double  their  number, 
in  our  present  condition.  But  it  would  be 
wise,  I  think,  to  land  two  or  three  of  the 
lighter  pieces  from  the  ship  and  set  them  up 
so  as  to  guard  the  rear  and  left  flank  of  the 
settlement." 

•'  Well  thought  of,"  replied  Duwaney.  "  I 
had  the  same  plan  in  my  own  mind,  you  may 
be  sure.  It  shall  be  done  without  loss  of 
time.  And  you  are  right  — if  they  do  not 
catch  us  napping  they'll  make  nothing  of  us. 
As  you  say,  we  are  reinforced  in  the  nick 
of  time.  They  have  come  a  day  too  late 
The  ship  will  save  us  from  a  front  attack 
and  her  crew  will  more  than  double  our 
strength.  And  if  all  I've  heard  of  him  is 
true,  young  Coffin  will  prove  a  host  in  him- 
self." 

"  So  one  would  judge  from  his  own  tales, 
at  any  rate,"  replied  Donald  MacAllister. 
But  he  was  ashamed  of  himself  the  moment 


i 


? 


W 


138  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


P '  f 


I 


014 


M 


r-i 


-% 


I  •  f  '* 


the  mean  words  were  passed  his  lips.  His 
natural  manliness  —  and  the  very  pride  that 
was  hiy  greatest  fault  —  rebuked  him  swiftly 
for  this  petty,  underhand  stroke. 

Duwaney  looked  at  him  curiously,  witli  a 
half -smile  twitching  the  corners  of  his  clean- 
shaven lips.    He  considered  himself  a  keen 
reader  of  the  liearts  and  minds  of  men.    ' '  So 
the  trouble  shows  itself  so  soon,  does  it?  " 
he  mused.    "  The  two  young  blades  are  ri- 
vals and  enemies  already,  are  they?     This 
jealousy  is  worse  than  powder  and  shot — 
the  weapon  of  the  devil  himself,  I  do  believe. 
This  is  the  second  fruit  of  Bess's  mad  prank, 
the  first  being  the  fit  that  all  but  brought  me 
to  my  death.     'Twill  be  worse  before   'tis 
better,    no    doubt  — and  both    these   young 
fools  as  poor  as  vestry  mice."    On  the  face 
of  it  the  worthy  man  was  wrong,  for  we  know 
that  these  youths  had  never  felt  any  real 
friendship  for  one  another  and  that  their 
present  trouble  was  due  to  a  purely  polit- 
ical   difference.      Yes,    the    governor    was 
wrong.    But  who  shall  say  that  he  was  not 
right,  for  all  that?    Being  an  older  man,  per- 


>i 


A  Fight  for  Posterity 


139 


haps  he  kuew  more  about  it  than  the  youths 
themselves. 

"  I  have  heard  something  in  his  favor 
from  another  source,"  said  the  governor. 

"  I  do  not  doubt  it  for  a  moment,  sir.  I 
believe  he  has  proved  his  courage,  and  his 
skill  as  a  soldier,  on  more  than  one  oc- 
casion," replied  MacAUister,  with  forced 
heartiness  in  his  voice. 

Duwaney  nodded.  **  Well  said,  lad.  Now 
we'll  step  back  to  the  house  and  perfect  our 
plans  for  defence.  We  must  send  for  Coffin 
and  Spike  to  join  the  council  of  war.  Coffin 
is  a  seasoned  campaigner  and  old  Spike  has 
mixed  in  more  broils,  afloat  and  ashore,  than 
we  have  fingers  and  toes." 

He  leaned  heavily  on  the  young  man*s 
arm,  and  prodded  in  front  of  his  game  foot 
with  his  stick,  as  they  moved  slowly  down 
the  rough  flank  of  the  hill.  His  humor  was 
lightening.  "  Let  them  strike  when  they 
please,  they'll  find  old  Tom  Duwaney  ready 
for  them,"  he  said. 

**  Does  it  not  seem  to  you,  sir,  that  it  would 
be  wiser   for   us   to   plan   the   defence   of 


s 


' 


I, 


•if 


140         A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


Bristol's  Hope  without  assistance  from  the 
ship?  "  asked  Donald,  diffidently. 

"  Why  so,  lad?  what  is  your  idea?  " 

"  We  are  responsible  for  the  safety  of  the 
colony,  sir." 

**  And  they  are  responsible  for  the  safety 
of  the  ship,  and  for  the  money  invested  in 
her.  They  might  escape  with  the  vessel  if 
the  colony  fell  — though,  mark  you,  I  don't 
believe  they'd  try  to  escape  — but  where 
would  the  voyage  be?  How  would  they  get 
a  cargo  to  take  home  to  Bristol?  And  what 
sort  of  a  story  would  they  have  to  tell  of 
the  overthrow  of  the  colony  —  perhaps  of 
the  death  of  inv  daughter  —  while  they 
sailed  out  of  the  harbor  because  they  were 
not  responsible?  Tush!  Twaddle!  You 
talk  foolishness,  sir!  They  are  in  this 
trouble  as  deep  as  we  are,  and  they'll  not 
shirk  their  duty.  They  are  better  able  to 
get  us  out  of  the  trouble  than  we  are  to  get 
out  ourselves.  I  am  neither  a  soldier  nor 
a  sailor,  and  T  doubt  if  you  are  much  of 
either  yourself,  lad." 

"  Have  it  your  own  way,  sir,  of  course." 


A  Fight  for  Posterity 


141 


*'  1  certainly  intend  to  do  so,  Master  Mac- 
Allister." 

•*  1  nm  all  for  the  safety  and  progress  of 
the  colony  and  the  best  interests  of  the  Com- 
pany, sir.  But  I  take  it  unkindly  of  you  to 
say  that  I  am  neither  a  soldier  nor  a  sailor. 
I  have  had  both  military  and  naval  training 
under  Sir  Walter  Raleigh." 

"  The  gentleman  who  so  recently  lost  his 
head!" 

"  Yes,  sir;  Ibut  an  able  man  for  all  that." 

•*  So  you  have  often  told  me,  lad.  Indeed, 
before  we  knew  that  his  career  had  come  to 
such  e  disastrous  end  you  seemed  to  be  a 
deal  warmer  in  championing  him  than  you 
are  now." 

"  My  admiration  for  his  memory  is  still 
warm,  sir.  But  he  was  found  guilty  of  a 
grave  misdemeanor  and  has  suffered  the 
penalty.  He  offended  greatly  in  carrying 
on  a  private  war  against  Spain  when  Spain 
and  England  were  at  peace.  To  defend  him 
in  this  one  must  discredit  the  king.  I  hold 
my  loyalty  to  the  Crown  above  friendship." 

"A  noble  sentiment,  lad  —  but  one  that 


^^^H 

1 

m 

1 

1 

] ,  J 

■ 

I    :,i 

V 

142  A  Captain  ol  Raleigh^ 


exhibits  strengtli  of  hi  i  rather  than 
streri4rth  of  t  vart,"  n  plie«  Duwunev  ♦'  Uxt 
here  we  are;  nm}  now  for  wor)  lusteHj  ut 
words  '  He  halted  and  gazed  ><'urchin  dy 
in(  '  the  young  mau's  face.  •'  A-mI  hy  he 
same  token,  I'.riald  M..  Allis^ff,  y,  I  now 
fo7-et  your  p^-tty  |.=rivaic  j*>  nsy  a-  1  giv^ 
jourself  hc^ntil^  t^  the  best  rotec^i  o 
tlk  coloijy  and  the  shi,-." 

■'  Y<.u  do  me  an  injustice.  ?  r,  '  i*omplr ined 
T)oi!ald.  "  I  assure  yo.  tiiat  I  feel  nv  ,  al- 
ou.-y  toward  anybody.' 

The  gover/)or  pu'Ted  it  hi  ei  ai  iven 
lips  as  if  le  were  ai  "it  to  ^histlo.  'inen 
so  much  the  more  cott  lort;  hie  for  i\V  f  us, " 
he  said. 

A  council  of  war.  c  mposed  >f  the  g  'z- 
ernor,  MacAl'  ler,  Coffin  and  ^e.  ^  ts 
held  in  Mu-  g  -fn'or's  I  use.  I'uwaney's 
plans  we  •  afirrr  .  upon  wit  iout  h  ,s  of  time 
and  wit^    but  t         n.     .^nts.    The  men 

of  the  iony  re  ra»  'ered  under  arms, 
inspect.  '  and  told  oii  in  fou-  tc^.p'^  of  five 
men  to  t  c  watch,  hhen  the  aiids  were 
present,  \,  th  their-  m.uskets  on  their  shonl- 


A  Fight  for  r  )steritv 


143 


more  bcacil.lui 


ders,  finding  tlu*  evpitor^^nt 
to  tlioir  healths  tlian  any  atnount  of  physic. 
Ej?  'h  of  these  guards,  or  wntcln  s,  was  rein- 
forced by  tliroe  men  from  the  "  Good  For- 
tune."   One  watch,  in  chaige  of  John  Cope, 
tiie  colony's  smith,  went  on  guard  and  sentry 
duty   at  sunset.     After  receiving  brief  in- 
str      "ons  in  their  duties  from  Master  CofRn, 
the;       -cnpied  the  ridge  on  the  left  of  the 
settl-  (nent  wliich  comman<  ed  the  anchorage 
of  tho  three  brigs,  and  the  top  of  the  low 
cliff  in  the  rear.    Anotlu-r  watch  and  a  boat's 
ere     from  the  siiip  were  set  to  the  heavy 
)f  landinir  tliree  falconets  and  such  am- 
ion  as  might  be  required.    The  remain- 
'•hes  were  not  employed  at  the  time; 
was  to  go  on  sentry  duty  at  eleven 
nd  the  other  at  three  in  the  morning. 
Spike  returned  to  the  **  Good  Fortune;  " 
but  Harold  CofBn,  feeling  that  his  services 
were  required   ashore  more  urgently  than 
aboard  the  ship,  remained  with  the  governor 
and  MacAll  ster.    By  ten  o'clock  two  of  the 
guns  were  mounted  on  th"  ridge  overle 
the  brigs.     Then  thp  governor  im-^-^ 


task 

IT 

bu! 

o'el^ 


I  i 


. 


l-i:' 


m  :i 


I  4*  !      ' 


1=1  I 

i,  i 

m 


144 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


two  officers  to  partake  of  a  bowl  of  punch 
that  was  being  prepared  by  his  body-servant, 
who  was  a  master-hand  at  the  brewing  of 
drinks.  They  made  their  way  down  '  the 
house,  the  two  young  men  all  but  carrying 
the  governor  bodily  —  for  the  old  man  Lad 
been  on  his  feet  almost  continuously  since 
the  first  bout  of  words  with  the  fishermen. 
The  door  was  opened  to  them  by  Elizabeth. 
She  stood  for  a  second  with  the  warm  illumi- 
nation of  fire-light  and  candle-light  behind 
her,  peering  out  anxiously. 

"  What  is  it?  Is  any  one  hurt?  "  she 
asked,  anxiously. 

**  We  are  tired  and  thirsty.  Is  the  punch 
ready?  "  replied  the  governor,  hoisting  his 
lame  foot  high  as  his  companions,  lifting 
on  his  elbows,  raised  him  to  the  threshold. 
Elizabeth  stepped  back  and  the  three  mov  1 
slowly  into  the  warm  and  cheerful  room. 
Harold,  loosing  his  hold  on  the  governor's 
arm,  turned  to  close  the  door. 

"  Hark!  "  he  exclaimed.  Then  he  clapped 
his  hat  on  his  head  and  dashed  to  the  outer 
darkness,  leaving  the  door  swinging  wide 


A  Fight  for  Posterity 


145 


behind  him.  The  girl  uttered  a  low  cry. 
Duwaney  and  MacAllister  stared  at  each 
other,  listening  intently.  Duwaney  ran  the 
tip  of  his  tongue  along  his  dry  lips.  *  *  What 
is  itf  What  pricked  him?  "  he  whispered. 
As  if  in  answer,  a  musket-shot  banged  out 
from  the  direction  of  the  ridge,  starting 
thumping  echoes  on  every  side.  This  was 
followed  by  an  irregular  fusillade  of  great 
and  lesser  reports,  mad  yella*  and  loud  shout- 
ing. MacAllister  snatched  his  sword  from 
its  scabbard  and  sprang  through  the  door- 
way. The  governor  bawled,  *'  To  arms!  To 
arms!  "  Then,  in  spite  of  his  daughter's 
protests,  he  picked  up  his  heavy  walking 
stick  and  stumped  out  of  the  house. 

To  return  to  Harold  Coffin.  The  sound 
that  had  caught  his  attention  when  he  was 
about  to  close  the  governor's  door  was  a 
faint,  muffled  cry.  He  was  at  the  foot  of 
the  rising  ground,  running  and  stumbling, 
when  the  fusillade  broke  out.  "  To  the  de- 
fence! '*  he  cried.  He  heard  men  running 
and  scrambling  beside  him,  and  even  saw 
the  dim  shapes  of  the  nearest.    He  managed 


u 


i^ 


'i: 


ft: 


..1  • 
-I" 


4     i 


■I 


111 


J,  ^ 


Ml: 


3f'        <  f 

r   1 

,  t 

1 

;;^  ? 

i'    ! 

■i    1 

;=•:  « 

i  1 

II 

W  B 

146 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


to  gather  a  dozen  of  them  about  him  as  he 
ascended  the  long,  rough  slope  of  the  ridge, 
and  cautioned  them  to  make  no  mistake  be- 
tween friend  and  foe.  Arriving  at  the  sum- 
mit he  found  the  guard  still  in  possession 
and  the  little  battei-y  of  falconets  undis- 
turbed. The  attack  had  been  sharp  and 
short,  one  sentry  had  been  killed  with  a 
knife-thrust,  and  most  of  the  firing  had  been 
done  by  the  defenders.  The  invaders  had 
retreated  half-way  dovrn  the  seaward  slope 
and  from  among  the  rocks  were  discharging 
their  muskets  and  pistols  irregularly  and  in- 
effectually. The  colonists  replied  to  them 
with  firing  efpially  irregular  ana  harmless. 

Harold  could  make  nothing  of  the  situa- 
tion. He  could  not  bring  his  knowledge  of 
the  fishermon  and  their  half-hoarted  attack 
to  agree  in  his  mind.  He  ordered  the  men 
to  scatter  along  the  ridge  and  to  ceaso  firing. 
The  three  brigs  below  were  invisi])lo  in  the 
dark  and  showed  no  lights.  Presently  Mac- 
Allister  came  scrambling  up.  close  at  hand. 

♦'Coffin!  Where  are  ;  -r  "  he  called, 
guardedly. 


A  Fight  for  Posterity 


147 


(( 


This  way,"  replied   Coffin.     The   Scot 
found  him  in  a  minute. 

**  Did  they  attack?  ^\^lat  are  they  doing 
now?  Where  are  tliey?  "  he  asked,  stam- 
mering with  excite-  i  it.  Harold  understood 
his  emotion,  remembering  liis  own  first  ex- 
perience of  a  night  attack.  He  told  him  what 
he  knew. 

**  And  what  d'ye  make  of  it?  "  inquired 
MacAllister,  breathlessly. 

*'  Some  trickery,  I  fear.  This  was  but  a 
pretence  at  attack,  to  cover  something  more 
determined,"  replied  Coffin.  "  They  may 
try  to  board  the  *  Good  Fortune  '  and  cap- 
ture her,  knowing  that  many  of  the  crew  are 
ashore.  As  almost  all  the  stores  are  still  in 
the  hold,  that  would  prove  a  shrewd  stroke 
to  the  colony." 

"  For  heaven's  sake,  suggest  some- 
thing! "  exclaimed  the  other.  *♦  This  sort 
of  thing  is  new  to  me.  My  brain  seems 
flying  in  a  dozen  directions." 

"  Then  let  me  take  six  men  and  a  boat  and 
start   out  for   the   ship,"   returned    Coffin. 

Then  bring  your  battery  to  bear  on  that 


\>h\ 


''U4 


W 


tt 


^     '*  -  -    -  ' 


lA^aAiAB&^A^BiAi 


nh 


•■r 


1  .«   r- 


148 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


point,  about  where  the  brigs  are  riding  at 
anchor,  and  open  as  heavy  a  fire  as  possible. 
Keep  the  gunners  strongly  supported  by  lads 
with  cutlasses  and  clubs,  for  close-quarter 
work.  If  I  find  the  ship  in  danger  I  must 
remain  aboard  to  fight  her.  Whatever  the 
enemy  is  about,  your  gun-fire  on  the  brigs 
will  distract  him  from  his  purpose." 

"  I  will  do  as  you  say,"  replied  Donald 
MacAllister. 


CHAPTER   XI 


THE   FIGHT   CONTINUES 


With  six  of  his  own  men  at  his  heels, 
Harold  Coffin  hastened  down  toward  the  vil- 
lage and  the  harbor,  eager  to  get  aboard  the 
**  Good  Fortune."  His  fears  for  her  safety 
grew  with  every  second.  His  suspicion  that 
the  attack  on  the  ridge  was  but  a  blind  to 
hide  the  striking  of  a  more  deadly  blow  was 
now  a  conviction.  In  his  excited  imagination 
he  could  hear  the  muffled,  stealthy  oars  of 
the  fishermen  creeping  in  upon  the  unsus- 
pecting ship.  He  passed  the  governor  puff- 
ing and  grumbling  up  the  slope;  and  though 
the  great  man  bellowed  a  volley  of  questions 
after  him  he  hurried  on  without  pausing  to 
reply.  He  saw  Elizabeth  standing  in  the 
open  doorway  of  the  governor's  house. 
There  he  halted  for  a  moment,  letting  his 
men  pass  him  and  turn  ahead  of  him  into 

U0 


MJ 


I 


m 


A 


Mi 


1^ 


1 

>  1. 

J  i,: 

1 

.  i: ' 

:,1   > 
1 

^"il 

150 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


the  narrow  path  that  led  between  the  tum- 
bled rocks  down  to  the  narrow  beach. 

*'  The  attack  on  the  ridge  has  been  re- 
pulsed; but  I  fear  the  ship  may  be  in  dan- 
ger," he  said. 

She  put  out  her  hand  and  touched  his. 
"  It  is  a  great  comfort  to  me  to  know  that 
you  are  here  to  help  us,"  she  said. 

' '  If  you  hear  hot  firing  from  the  ridge  do 
not  feel  alarmed,  for  'twill  be  nothing  but 
a  ruse,"  was  all  he  could  think  of  by  way 
of  a  reply.  Then  he  lifted  his  hat,  turned 
and  followed  his  men  down  to  the  land-wash. 

The  beach  was  deserted.  Coffin  and  his 
men  moved  quietly  down  to  the  water  and 
along  the  edge  of  the  tide  until  they  found 
a  boat.  They  climbed  aboard,  cast  her  loose, 
and  moved  out  toward  the  ship's  riding- 
light.  At  a  whispered  command,  the  rowers 
sat  motionless.  What  was  it  they  heard 
somewhere  in  the  blackness  on  the  left,  low 
on  the  hidden  water?  Was  it  the  creak  of 
ash  on  birchen  thole-pin  or  the  cry  of  a  bird? 
Was  it  the  dip  and  splash  of  a  carelessly 
bandied  oar-blade  or  the  breaking  of  a  little 


di-tawkywjy-i 


The  Fight  Cont'Hues 


151 


wave  against  a  rock?     '•  Pull  ahead,  lads. 
Soft  and  steady,"  whispered  Harold. 

Just  then,  one  of  the  little  cannon  on  the 
ridge  1  id  out  its  thunder  and  flame. 
While  t-ie  choes  still  shook  the  harbor  the 
other  gun  banged  tremendously.  Again 
Harold  allowed  his  boat  to  drift  idly.  The 
echoes  of  the  second  report  died  away  and 
in  the  silence  that  followed  Coffin  and  his 
men  heard  a  faint  stir  of  life  upon  the 
shrouded  water  — the  soft  forging  along 
of  invisible  boats,  a  furtive  splashing,  a 
guarded  exclamation.  Then  they  knew  that 
the  boats  from  the  brigs  were  close  about 
them.  Some,  perhaps,  were  already  under 
the  side  of  the  **  Good  Forti  ne."  That  the 
purpose  of  the  nearer  boats  was  somewhat 
shaken  by  the  fire  of  the  falconets  was  very 
evident.  Again  the  little  battery  on  the 
ridge  shook  the  night  with  its  racketing 
voices.  With  the  return  of  quiet,  TTarold 
heard  unmistakable  sounds  of  human  adiv- 
ity  around  him  —  the  creak  of  oars,  the  dip- 
ping of  blades  and  anxious  questions  and 
whispered  replies.    He  drew  a  pistol  from 


k 


pi 


ii 


i]  *  .1 ,« ■ 


,!  :i* 


'  f  .4  1 


152 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


his  belt,  corrected  the  priming,  extended  it 
in  the  direction  of  the  stealthy  noises  and 
pulled  the  trigger.  The  bang  and  flash  of 
it  acted  like  magic.  The  prow  of  a  boat  ap- 
peared, close  at  hand,  a  black  shadow  against 
the  blackness,  and  vanished  again.  Wood 
thumped  on  wood.  Oars  churned  the  black 
water.  A  torch  flamed  above  the  rail  of 
the  "  Good  Fortune,"  amidships.  Another 
blazed  angrily  in  her  high  bows  and  still 
another  astern.  In  the  red  light  on  the  water 
close  under  her  side  lay  two  boats  full  of 
men.  And  all  these  things  — the  confused 
sounds,  the  flaming  of  the  torches  and  the 
sudden  i)icture  of  the  ship  and  the  little 
boats  —  conjured  out  of  the  darkness  by  the 
banging  of  a  pistol ! 

The  voice  of  old  Spike  challonging  the 
boats  rang  across  the  outer  dark  from  the 
red-lit  hull.  More  boats  swam  into  the  nar- 
row strip  of  illuminated  water.  Muskets 
and  pistols  gave  tongue.  The  fight  was  on. 
To  ad  3  the  tumult  of  the  real  battle,  Mac- 
Allister  .ontinuod  to  fire  his  falconets  at  the 
invisible  brigs. 


ii ; 


fcWHft.k-:-.-..''L.I!ilJgiH-T' 


■flJJlUWP 


m 


The  Fight  Continues 


153 


Harold  Coffin  gave  whispered  instructions 
to  his  men.  The  boat  circled  the  ship,  un- 
seen but  seeing  everything.  The  boarders 
were  being  driven  back  at  every  point.  Cof- 
fin's boat  crept  closer,  nearing  a  point  amid- 
ships on  the  shoreward  side  where  the  attack 
was  strongest.  A '  i  sign,  his  men  drew  their 
oars  inboard  and  took  their  muskets  in  their 
bauds.  None  of  these  weapons  were  of  the 
new  flintlock  pattern  but  all  were  old  and 
tested  matchlocks.  A  light  was  struck  under 
the  shield  of  a  cloak  and  the  matches  were 
lit.  Then  a  volley  belched  forth  that  shook 
the  boat  and  struck  dismay  into  the  hearts 
of  the  fellows  clawing  for  a  foothold  on  the 
ship's  rail.  Only  one  of  them  was  hit,  'tis 
true;  but  in  sheer  terror  at  being  attacked 
in  the  rear  so  unexpectedly,  a  dozen  or  more 
dropped  back,  some  into  the  boats  and  some 
into  the  water.  Coffin's  men  laid  aside  their 
muskets  and  again  took  to  the  oars.  They 
rounded  the  ship  and  drew  in  on  her  other 
side  where  a  brisk  hand-to-hand  struggle 
was  going  forward  alon^  the  low  bulwarks. 
They  drew  closer  this  time  and  the  muskets 


"       !     « 


154 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh'.J 


were  discharged  with  even  greater  execution 
than  before. 

This  second  stroke  from  tlie  outer  dark- 
ness, together  with  the  stubborn  defence  of 
the  lads  aboard  the  ship,  ended  the  attack 
for  the  night.  Leaving  eight  of  their  men 
and  one  of  their  boats  in  the  deep  water 
under  the  **  Good  Fortune,"  they  pulled  sul- 
lenly away  from  the  illumination  of  the 
torches.  They  were  puzzled  and  furious. 
Who  was  it,  they  asked  from  boat  to  boat, 
with  daring  and  wit  enough  to  put  out  from 
the  shore,  warn  the  ship  of  her  danger  by 
discharging  a  pistol  and  then  join  so  rffect- 
ively  in  the  engagement?  The  more  reckless 
and  angry  of  them  were  for  landing  and  at- 
tacking the  plantation  from  the  front;  but 
their  leaders,  knowing  that  the  colonists  had 
been  reinforced  by  men  from  the  ship,  and 
having  suffered  sufficiently  already  for  one 
night,  urged  them  to  return  to  the  brigs. 
So  they  pulled  out  of  the  harbor  —  and 
Coffin's  boat  followed  them  close,  unheard 
and  unseen,  until  they  rounded  the  little 
cape. 


i 


livW^ 


MM 


maai 


The  Fight  Continues 


155 


Coffin  returned  to  the  "  Good  Fortune," 
hailed  lier  elaborately  for  fear  of  being  mis- 
taken for  an  enemy,  and  went  over  the  side. 
He  was  waniily  welcomed  by  Spike.  Moved 
out  of  his  customary  stolidity,  the  old  man 
grasped  both  his  hands  and  then,  as  if 
his  feelings  were  not  yet  satisfactorily  ex- 
pressed, embraced  him  affectionately. 

"  I  heard  ye,  master!  "  he  cried.  '*  Ye 
don't  have  to  tell  me  who  let  fly  that  pistol 
an'  put  the  shots  into  them  beggars'  backs. 
I  knowed  ye'd  not  forget  the  old  ship  in  the 
hour  o'  her  tribulation.  We'd  have  had  our 
hands  full  —  an'  maybe  more'n  we  could  well 
hold,  if  ye  hadn't  come  along  an'  peppered 
'em  in  the  stam-sheets. " 

"  But  how  did  you  know  who  it  was,  old 
shipmate?  "  asked  Harold,  quite  forgetting 
his  weariness  in  the  satisfaction  derived 
from  Spike's  words  and  manner. 

**  Would  I  think  it  was  the  governor?  " 
returned  the  mariner.  **  No;  for  he'd  ha' 
come  in  a  lighted  boat,  a-roarin'  like  a  bull. 
Nor  would  I  take  it  for  Master  MacAllister? 
No,  sir  —  for  he'd  not  ha'  come  at  all." 


m 


'a. 


n 


11 


156 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


'^ 


I   I 


•'  Come  now,  Benjamin,  why  d'ye  say  so  of 
Master  MacAUisterl  "  asked  Harold. 

'*  He'd  never  think  on  it,"  answered  Spike. 
'•  He'd  be  stand  in'  on  tlie  shore  a-wavin'  his 
sword  'round  his  head,  bless  his  heart." 

Three  of  the  men  of  the  ship  had  btcu 
severely  wounded  and  seven  had  received 
slight  injuries ;  but  not  any  had  been  killed. 
Coffin  remained  aboard  for  more  than  an 
hour,  helping  James  with  t  'rgical  work, 
seeing  to  the  comfort  of  the  sufferers,  lend- 
ing a  hand  in  the  shifting  of  two  of  the  guns 
and  arranging  a  dozen  things  in  anticipation 
of  another  attack.  Then  he  wen*  ashore, 
reported  to  the  governor,  went  the  rounds 
of  the  sentries  and  guards,  and  worked  for 
a  while  with  the  men  in  the  construction  of 
a  small  stockade  for  the  protection  of  one 
of  the  guns.  The  sun  was  out  of  the  eastern 
sea  when  he  at  last  unbuckled  his  sword  and 
pistols  and  lay  down  beside  the  hearth  in  the 
main  room  of  the  governor's  house.  His 
folded  cloak  made  a  comfortable  pillow. 
The  glow  from  the  birch  coals  touched  liis 
face  deliciously  and  crept  through  his  damp 


The  Fight  Continues  167 

lu    a    minute    l.e    was    sound 


clothing, 
asleep. 

The  day  and  night  '>f  fatigue,  excitement 
and  exposure  had  acted  like  a  tonic  on  Mas- 
ter Duwaney.    Righteous  anger  against  the 
lawless  fishermen  glowed  in  liis  belly  like  a 
coal,  and  lieart  and  brain  were  enlixened  by 
military  exhilaration.    He  was  proud  of  the 
defence  made  by  the  colony  and  the  ship,  and 
honestly  believed  that  to  his  own  generalship 
was  due  the  success.     He  felt  that  he  had 
missed  his  vocation  in  following  mercantile 
pursuits  all  his  life.     He  siiouM  have  been 
a  military  man.    Though  he  had  not  retired 
to  his  he<^  until  close  upon  dawn  he  was  out 
of  it  again  and  fully  dressed  even  to  both  his 
boots   before   poor   Coffin   had   enjoyed   an 
hour'-  -!(-ep.    A  desire  to  start  the  machin- 
ery (  ■  CiUibat  to  activity  again  —  a  thirst 
for  another  draught  of  the  excitement  of 
laitle-     Irove  him  from  his  warm  blankets. 
He  was  determined  to  reverse  the  position 
of  things  this  morning  —  to  take  the  offen- 
sive part  -    to  strike  first  and  to  strike  hard. 
The  fishermen  had  played  into  his  hands. 


i! 


'ii 
H 

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158 


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'■I 

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A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


They  had  staked  all  on  one  throw,  and  so 
had  lost  as  heavily  as  they  had  risked.  Had 
tbey  succeeded  in  destroying  the  colony  they 
might  easily  have  escaped  the  punishment 
of  the  law  in  distant  England ;  but  in  failing 
they  had  put  themselves  on  the  footing  of 
con  Jion  pirates  and  had  left  intact  the  very 
power  whose  duty  it  was  to  punish  them. 

The  governor  found  Harold  asleep  by  the 
hearth  in  the  main  room  of  the  house.  The 
young  man's  slumber  had  not  been  disturbed 
by  the  servant  who  had  replenished  the  fire 
with  logs  an<l  tidied  the  hearth.  Duwaney 
stood  silent  for  a  full  minute,  gazing  down 
with  compassion  at  the  pale-faced  sleeper; 
but  his  anxiety  to  begin  operations  against 
the  enemy  was  stronger  than  his  compas- 
sion. 

"  The  poor  lad  looks  like  notliing  but  skin 
and  bone,"  h',:  murmured.  **  He  worked 
hard,  and  needs  rest  and  sleep;  but  for  the 
good  of  the  colony  T  must  disturb  him." 

So  saying,  the  governor  of  Bristol's  Hope 
gently  prodded  the  slioulder  of  the  com- 
mander of  the  "  (lood  Fortune  "  with  his 


The  Fight  Continues 


150 


walking  stick.  The  effect  of  the  gentle  prod 
was  not  at  all  what  the  governor  had  ex- 
pected. In  a  flash,  and  almost  hefore  his 
eyes  were  open,  Coffin  was  on  his  feet  and 
had  Duwaney  by  the  throat.  So  they  stood 
for  a  second.  Then  Harold  became  sensible 
of  what  he  was  about  and  dropped  his  hand 
with  an  exclamation  of  dismay. 

'*  Ton  my  soul!  "  cried  Duwaney,  puffing 
out  his  lips  and  steadying  himself  against 
the  back  of  a  settle. 

*'  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir.  I  thought  the 
harbor  admirals  were  upon  me,"  explained 
Harold. 

"  Enough  said,  lad,"  replied  the  governor, 
rubbing  his  throat  with  his  hand.  •*  'Tis  a 
soldierly  trait,  this  springing  into  action  at 
a  touch.  Now  to  business.  We  must  break- 
fast and  then  commence  operations  against 
the  freebooters.  You  must  take  your  ship 
*round  and  give  battle  to  them  outside  the 
harbor.  D'ye  feel  strong  enough  to  engage 
the  three  of  them?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  Then  T  had  better  breakfast 
aboard,"  replied  Coffin. 


I 


tm 


160 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


"  But  you  need  all  your  men,  lad." 

**  No,  sir,  I  think  we  have  enough  still 
aboard  to  sail  the  ship  and  fight  the  guus. 
The  plantation  must  not  he  left  short-handed, 
for  you  may  depend  upon  it  that  when  we 
strike  at  one  point  they  will  strike  at  an- 
other. Their  hearts  are  set  on  breaking  this 
colony." 

Just  then  there  came  a  loud  clatter  upon 
the  outer  door  of  the  house  and,  without 
waiting  for  an  invitation,  one  of  the  men 
from  the  guard  then  on  duty  rushed  into  the 
room. 

"  Two  more  fish  ships  be  a-comin'  up  the 
bay,  sir!  "  he  cried.  "  They  be  fly  in'  flags 
already  to  them  that  lays  at  anchor,  an'  they 
be  flaggin'  back  to  them.  An'  the  men 
aboard  the  brigs  be  a  shoutin'  an'  a-singin', 
sir." 

'*  The  devil!  "  exclaimed  Duwaney. 

"  Of  what  size  are  these  vessels?  "  asked 
Harold. 

"  Luggers,  master.  Smaller  nor  they 
brigs,  sir,  but  fine,  stout  craft  for  all  that,'* 
replied  the  colonist. 


The  Fight  Continues 


161 


'•  We  must  attack  the  three  at  anchor  be- 
fore the  luggers  ar«  ready  to  help  them," 
said  Harold. 

**  As  you  think  l^est,  lad.  Fou  are  her 
commander,"  replied  the  governor,  shaking 
the  younger  man's  hand  with  cordial  en- 
ergy. 

Harold  caught  up  big  .^word  and  pistols, 
his  hat  and  cloak,  and  hurried  frorn  the 
bouse.  He  saw  MacAlliHter  and  a  dosen  of 
the  men  running  up  to  the  ridgf  of  the  little 
c;ipe,  and  others  were  iHsuing  frftm  the  build- 
ings around  with  their  great  BN^wketa  on 
their  shoulders.  The  sun  was  shining  high 
in  a  clear  sky  and  u  pleasant  breeze  fanned 
out  of  the  west.  Half  way  down  fhe  narrow 
path  he  fi^t  old  Bill  Wing  ascending.  He 
stopped  him  with  a  gesture. 

**  Tell  the  governor,  with  my  compli- 
ments," said  he,  *'  that  a  guard  should  be 
kept  on  the  water-front  here.  Wlien  the  ship 
moves  out  the  luggers  may  get  past  her  into 
the  harbor.  And  the  third  falconet,  that's 
in  the  woods  there,  should  be  mounted  before 
the  governor's  door." 


ill 


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ma^mttibmmmmimt^ 


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162 


if  j   _' 


ii 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


**  Aye,  aye,  captain,"  said  old  Bill,  knuck- 
ling his  cap. 

Harold  took  a  bOiall  skiflf  from  the  foot  of 
one  of  the  drying-stages  and  rowed  himself 
out  to  the  "  Good  Fortune."  Spike  was 
waiting  for  him. 

*'  We  be  in  for  trouble  now,"  said  the  mas- 
ter. "  There  be  two  more  o'  these  here  fish- 
law  pirates  a-beatin'  up  the  bay.  It  be  a 
well  i)lanned  game,  sir,  ye  may  lay  to  that. 
If  they'd  all  got  here  yesterday  we'd  all  been 
done  for  last  liight." 

'*  We'll  just  go  out  and  have  a  smack  at 
the  brigs  before  the  luggers  come  up,"  said 
Coffin. 

"  Wen  sai<l.  It  be  a  sweet  wind  for  pretty 
sailin',"  cried  Spike,  immediately  bellowing 
an  order  to  his  mate.  Men  leaped  into  the 
shrouds  and  forward  to  the  capstan.  Lusty, 
bare  legged  fellows  tailed  on  to  sheets  and 
hnlynrds.  Square  sails  fla|)i)ed  out  and  were 
sheeted  taut.  The  anchors  were  walked  up 
to  a  roaring  chanty  and  the  "  Good  For- 
tune "  moved  toward  the  mouth  of  the  little 
harbor. 


i 


CHAPTER   Xn 

A  FRIEND   IN    NEED 

The  brigs  were  strongly  manned  but  car- 
ried only  two  small  cannon  api<>"e.     TMiat 
Spike  had  to  guard  against  wer^  the  grap- 
pling-irons   and    the   boarders.      He   emer- 
tained  no  fear  of  the  result  (^f  an  open  fts^ii, 
with  aea-room  to  work  the  ship  to  the  b^st 
advantage  of  her  guns.    The  brigs,  warned 
by  the  commotion  in  the  harbor,  were  w^t- 
ting  away  from  their  berths  with  all  posf^e 
dispatch  when  the  "  Good  Fortune  "  t  nndtKi 
the  cape.    With  their  anchors  just  clear  of 
the  water  and  a  sail  bulging  here  and  the«, 
they  were  drawing  into  deep  water  when  th«> 
ship's  heavy  bow-gun,  trained  on  the  mn^k 
by  her  commander's  own  hands,  sent  a  bnf! 
low  over  the  taflFrail  of  the  "  Peep  O'  Da>.  * 
It  was  a  chance  shot  but  a  deadly  one.    The 
man   at   the   brig's   tiller    reeled    and    fell, 
splashed  with  his  own  blood;   and  the  little 

UtS 


L 


164 


't  ^   !   , 


m!> 


i  ■,■■ 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


vessel  swung  off  her  course  fair  before  the 
wind  and  drove  her  bow-sprit  and  compli- 
caed  square-rigged  jibs  crashing  and  tearing 
into  the  starboard  fore-rigging  of  one  of  her 
companions.     Fouled  and  helpless,  the  two 
drifted  slowly  out  after  their  more  fortu- 
nate associate.    Their  crews  worked  like  mad 
to  clear  the  one  from  the  other.    Close  past 
their  nnpotent,  furious  struggling  sailed  the 

Good  Fortune,"  steady  as  a  church;    and 
as  she  swam  as  smootl.ly  by  she  hulled  the 
unfortunate   "  Peep   O'   Day  "   with   three 
round-shot.     After  the  third  brig  she  sent 
her  starboard  broadside  and  brought  a  mass 
of  top  hamper  swaying  an,l  crashing  down 
And  so  -  Sister  Joan,"  whidi  was  that  third 
brig,  found  herself  sorely  clipped  about  the 
wings   at   the  very  commencement   of  her 
flight.    She  showed  her  displeasure  by  knock- 
ing a  hole  through  one  of  the  "  Good  For 
tune's  "jibs;    and  in  return  for  that  she 
received  a  discharge  of  slugs  and  scrap-iron 
that  dropped  two  of  her  men. 

The  luggers  wore  heating  .wiftlv  up  to  the 
danger  zone;   and  Spike  and  Coffin  realized 


A  Friend  in  Need 


165 


the  need  of  quick  action.    Coming  about  with 
a   fine  display   of  seamanship,  the   "  Good 
Fortune  "  returned  to  the  crippled  brigs  and 
served  to  each  another  round  of  hot  iron. 
But  this  time  she  received  some  pepper  in 
reply  in  the  form  of  a  chain-shot   that  cut 
through  her  fore-top  and  brought  it  sagging 
down  until  it  tangled  in  the  fore-stays.    Now 
the  "  Peep  0'  Day  "  and  the  *'  Plover  "  were 
clear  of  each  other  and  under  all  sail  forged 
down  upon  the  ship,  eager  to  got  alongside 
and  grapf«le. 

The  good  ship  sailed  sluggishly  now,  and 
was  dull  in  replying  to  the  promptings  of  her 
tiller.    Two  men  went  aloft  to  cut  away  the 
wreckage   but  founc,   it   no  easy  matter  to 
clear  the  tangle.     Musket  fin,  opened  from 
the  ship  and  the  bri/a^      T!ie  big  gunfe  of  the 
"  Good  Fortune  "  bellowed  and  t^hook.    Har 
old  Coffin,  smoke-begrimed  and  happy,  called 
for  a  hot  dish  from  the  galley.    It  came  in 
an  iron  basket,  carried  slung  <»  a  capstan 
bar  between  two  men  —  a  pie  of  heated  shot 
glowing  white  and  red.    The  plums  from  this 
pie  were  served  to  the  approaching  brigs 


!l 


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M^'Jf 


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It 
h 


^^g  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


from    guns    nicely    sighted    by    Coffiu    him- 
self. 

The  luggers  came  along,  studied  the  situ- 
ation and  then  rounded  the  cape  and  beat  up 
the  little  harbor.    By  this  time,  two  of  the 
brigs  had  fleshed  their  iron  claws  in  the  gun- 
wales of  the  ♦*  Good  Fortune."    The  third, 
the  unfortunate  '*  Sister  Joan,"  lay  about 
twenty  yards  distant  from  the  ship's  bows, 
dismasted  and  smoking  like  an  autumn  bon- 
fire.   Her  men  were  pulling  away  from  her 
in  the  boats.    The  "  Peep  O'  Day  "  and  the 
••  Plover,"  one  on  either  side  of  the  ship 
like  hounds  on  the  flanks  of  a  stag,  seemed 
to  be  in  a  fair  state  of  preservation  but  in 
reality   were    suflFering    shrewdly    in    their 
oaken  vitals.     The  battle  along  the  ship's 
rails  was  terrific.    Still  a  great  gun  roared 
in  thunderous  agony,  now  and  then ;  but  the 
muskets  were  quiet,  the  pistols  had  all  spoken 
and  cutlasses  and  hand-spikes  carried  on  the 
terrible  work. 


It    was    two    hours    past    noon.      The 
*'  Plover  "  had  cast  loose  from  the  ship  and 


A  Friend  in  Need 


167 


was  drifting  helplessly  into  the  great  bay. 
Her  boats  were  splintered.   The  survivors  of 
her  crew  flung  pieces  of  wreckage  overboard 
and  sprang  after  them  into  the  cold,  bright 
water.     The  "  Peep  0'  Day  "  would  will- 
ingly have  loosed  her  hold  on  the  ship  and 
drifted  clear;  but  for  her  sins  she  was  held 
tight  in  the  embrace  which  she  had  so  eagerly 
solicited.    At  last,  however,  the  ♦'  Good  ^^r- 
tune  "  spurned  her  from  her  side  — pushed 
her  sluggishly  away  from  her  own  torn  side, 
a  battered,  blazing  wreck  full  of  ..  »or     aud 
death. 

Tattered  and  torn  aloft  and  splintered  and 
bleeding  below,  cluttered  with  her  wreckage 
and  her  dead,  the  "  Good  Fortune  "  drew 
lamely  away  from  the  place  of  her  desperate 
victory.    With  only  twelve  living  men  aboard 
and  only  seven  still  able  to  haul  on  a  rope  or 
swing  a  cutlass,  full-fed  with  danger,  a  very 
bedfellow    with    death    and    disaster,    she 
crawled  away  from  safety  and  rounded  the 
cape  into  the  little  harbor  where  fresh  dan- 
ger awaited  her. 

As  the  "  Good  Fortune  *'  dragged  her  bat- 


*    1 


■^=— ^--"^^^ 


I.^f  1  • 


II- 


•     i' 


168  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 

tered  hull  into  the  harhor,  one  of  the  luggers 
slipped  past  her,  speeding  eastward  into  the 
open  bay.     The  ship  crawled  on,  unable  to 
arrest  or  follow  the  swift,  uninjured  little 
vessel.     In  the  colony  the  unequal  fight  still 
raged;   but  now  it  was  confined  to  one  or 
two  of  the  huts.     The  falconets  had  been 
captured,  the  fish-sheds  and  stages,  the  gov- 
ernor's house  and  the  mill  on  the  river  were 
all  in  flames.     The  battle  was  narrowed  to 
a  tragic,  twisting  core.     A  number  of  the 
victorious  freebooters  had  drawn  off  from 
the  centre  .)f  activity,  unable  to  find  room 
among  their  comrades  for  the  striking  of  a 
blow  at  the  remnant  of  the  defenders.     At 
sight  of  the  ship,  which  they  had  thought  in 
the  hands  of  their  allies  long  ago,  these  fel- 
lows rushed  down  to  the  beach.  They  massed 
on  tlic  land-wash,  ready  to  cheek  any  attempt 
at  landing  that  might  be  made  by  the  sur- 
vivors of  the  crew.     They  wanted  to  wipe 
out  the  colony  of  Bristol's  Hope  once  and  for- 
ever.   Their  lugger  lay  close  to  the  beach, 
empty.     A  liandful  of  men  waded  out  and 
climbed  aboard  her,  with  the  intention  of 


A  Friend  in  Need 

sculliug  her  out  of  the  way  of  any  possible 
danger. 

Then  the  -  Good  Fortune  "  spoke  again! 
Two  brimming,  screaming  charges  of  can- 
nister  struck   and   broke  and  mangled   the 
cluster  of  men  on  the  shore.    A  round-shot 
ripped  the  lugger  between  wind  and  water. 
Yells  of  terror  and  pain  arose.    The  fight  in 
the  village  opened.    Some  of  the  enemy  came 
rushing  toward  the  water  and  others  ran 
for  the  woods.  Tiie  ship  grounded  lightly  and 
let  her  anchors  go  with  a  splash  into  shallow 
water.    Then  the  seven  men  of  her  crew  who 
could  still  swing  a  cutlass,  with  Harold  Cof- 
fin  leading,  lowered  themselves  over  the  side 
and  swam  ashore. 

Stout  fellows  stood  knee-deep  in  the  tide, 
ready  to  repulse  Coffin  and  his  six  followers! 
Coffin's  head  was  bandaged.  His  doublet 
was  gone  and  his  shirt  was  tattered  and 
blood-stained.  His  pale  eyes  flashed  like 
white  fire  and  he  shouted  shrilly  and  harshly 
as  he  advanced  through  the  shallow  water. 
In  his  riglit  hand  he  held  a  rapier  and  in  his 
left  a  dagger,  both  driiij^ing  with  brine  that 


i 


MICROCOPY   RESOLUTION    TEST   CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No    2) 


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^     >IPPLIED  IIVHGE 


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Rochester.    Me«    York         !4609       -SA 
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ii:! 


,  i. 

1    J: 

I- 
I 
I 


ti  . 


V 


170 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


were  so  soon  to  drip  with  a  warmer  fluid. 
The  big  fellow  who  faced  him  went  down  as 
swiftly  as  if  the  wrath  of  God  had  found 
him.  A  second  stumbled,  sobbing,  from  the 
young  man's  advance.  They  gave  way  sul- 
lenly. The  cutlasses  of  the  six  beat  them 
down  and  passed  on.  Coffin,  without  turning 
his  head  to  see  if  his  men  followed,  sped  up 
the  narrow  path  between  the  rocks.  Some- 
one opposed  him  —  but  he  continued  on  his 
way.  He  found  the  last  combat  —  the  last 
fragment  of  the  great  fight.  A  dozen  fisher- 
men still  beat  and  cut  at  MacAllister  and 
five  of  the  colonists.  He  dashed  into  the 
melee,  striking  furiously  with  both  death- 
shod  hands.  A  terrific  dread  burned  in  him, 
hurting  more  searchingly  than  his  wounds 
and  the  agony  of  his  panting  lungs.  He 
fought  like  a  madman,  but  still  with  the  fury 
and  skill  that  made  him  more  dangerous  in 
battle  than  three  men.  His  six  were  close 
behind  him.  In  a  minute  the  day's  fighting 
was  over. 

*'  Where  is  she?  "  cried  CoflSn,  grasping 
MacAllister 's  shoulder. 


m 


A  Friend  in  Need 


171 


The  Scot  swayed,  let  fall  his  sword  and 
sank  to  the  ground.  He  breathed  noisily, 
with  his  mouth  wide  open.  A  trickle  of  blood 
veined  his  left  wrist  and  was  dry  as  powder 
on  the  back  of  his  hand.  He  suffered  the  ex- 
treme agony  of  exhaustion.  He  could  neither 
think  nor  speak. 

Coffin  leaned  against  a  rough  wall  of  logs 
and  stared  down  at  MacAUister.  He  had 
dropped  his  dagger,  his  sword  hung  from 
his  wrist  by  a  thong  and  both  hands  were 
pressed  against  his  aching  chest.  He  mois- 
tened his  lips  with  his  tongue.  **  Where  is 
she?  "  he  asked,  again. 

The  other  young  man  made  an  effort  to 
speak,  but  could  do  no  more  than  raise  his 
right  hand  for  a  moment. 

"  Where  is  she,  I  say!  " 

Donald  MacAUister  struggled  dizzily  to  his 
feet.  His  brown,  healthy  face  was  the  color 
of  chalk.  He  clutched  fumblingly  at  the 
other  for  support.  '*  They  carried  them 
away  —  the  governor  —  and  the  women,"  he 
gasped. 

*•  And  Elizabeth  T  '» 


i     ; 


!■  U 


Ai 


172 


!|} 


if;  I 


f  .'I  ' 


I ';: 

1  ; 

I'M 

l^-i 

,.  ^ 

*i', 

l(  !i 

^ '  ■' 

■  '    l;- 

r 

, 

Li 

[ 

A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


"  Yes." 

**  You  worthless,  big,  strutting  wind- 
bag! "  cried  Coffin,  huskily. 

He  put  out  his  left  hand  and  pushed  Mac- 
Allister  weakly.  The  Scot  stumbled  and  fell. 
Coffin  glared  down  at  him,  sneering, 

**  You  had  artillery.  They  had  none,"  he 
said,  bitterly.  **  You  had  the  fortifications 
—  and  the  hill.  You  had  one  to  three  — 
enough  to  hold  them  off  for  a  year.  Why 
did  you  let  them  land?  Oh,  you  miserable 
fool!" 

MacAllister  once  more  scrambled  to  his 
feet.  **  We  did  our  best,"  he  said,  hoarsely. 
**  We  fought  —  you  saw  how." 

**  Like  the  beasts  of  the  fields,"  returned 
Coffin. 

MacAllister  steadied  himself  with  his 
shoulder  against  the  wall  and  struck  the 
other  across  the  face  with  his  open  hand. 

**  D'ye  know  what  that  means?  "  he  asked. 

"I'll  expound  you  the  meaning  later  — 
after  I've  caught  up  to  the  lugger  and 
brought  back  the  prisoners,"  replied  Coffin, 
steadily.    He  slipped  the  leather  thong  from 


.-''«« t 


A  Friend  in  Need 


17S 


his  wrist,  wiped  the  blade  of  his  sword  od 
his  sash  and  returned  it  to  its  scabbard. 
Then  he  stooped  and  picked  his  dagger  from 
the  ground.  "  MacAllister,"  said  he,  **  you 
are  as  rash  as  you  are  vain  and  stupid.  But 
I  am  willing  to  forget  that  blow,  for  I  have 
no  thirst  for  blood." 

**  Be  careful,  or  I  may  strike  you  again  1  " 
cried  the  Scot. 

'*  Not  now.  We  must  let  this  disagree- 
ment lie  until  we  have  recovered  the  gov- 
ernor  and  his  daughter,"  replied  Harold 
Coffin. 

MacAllister  nodded.  "  Yes,  we  must  get 
to  work  again,"  he  said,  falteringly.  '«  My 
head  spins  with  weariness.  My  bones  ache 
—  my  sinews  are  on  fire.  Yes,  we  must  sail 
after  them.  We  must  call  the  men  — they 
are  working  in  the  woods.  Lord,  I'd  like  to 
lie  down  and  sleep  for  a  year."  He  reeled 
against  the  wall  and  slid  sideways  to  the 
ground. 

Coffin  dragged  the  unconscious  MacAllis- 
ter into  one  of  the  remaining  huts.  "  Lie 
there,  you  great  weakling,"  said  he.    "  Your 


f  ,1 


0  ■ 


i- |A 


I*'' 


111- 


my 


1:^1!  (^ 


1 1 

■li 

■r 

i    k 

ill 

wi 

174  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


muscles  are  too  big  and  your  nerves  are  too 
small.  Your  head  is  full  of  wood  and  your 
belly  of  clay.  Lie  there,  you  poor  unfortu- 
nate bungler!  " 

He  held  the  young  Scotchman  to  blame  for 
the  capture  of  the  governor  and  the  women, 
for  the  fellow  was  supposed  to  be  a  soldier. 
With  such  men  and  such  a  position,  the  place 
should  never  havc  been  taken  by  the  crews 
of  the  luggers.    But  his  rage  against  him  for 
his  bungling  was  now  half  turned  to  pity. 
He  left  MacAllister  and  collected  his   six 
heroic  lads  and  the  survivors  of  the  colony. 
Only  four  of  the  men  who  had  taken  part 
in  the  defence  of  the  plantation  could  stand 
on  their  feet.    Six  more  still  had  the  breath 
of  life  in  them.     The  wounded,   including 
ISfacAllister,  were  carried  down  to  the  beach. 
Two   boats   were  found   adrift   in   shallow 
water  and  in  these  they  pushed  across  to  the 
"  Good  Fortune."    Coffin  found  Spike  on  the 
locker  in  the  cabin,  faint  from  loss  of  blood. 

*•  How  fares  it,  Ben?  "  he  asked,  tenderly. 

"  Nought  but  flesh  wounds,  shipmate,"  re- 
plied the  master. 


A  Friend  in  Need 


175 


"  Is  the  ship  hulled?  " 

**  She  be  tight  as  a  pint-pot." 

**  Can  she  sail?  " 

**  'Twill  take  a  day  to  get  her  clear  o' 
wreckage,  lad  ~  an'  even  then  she'd  no  more 
nor  crawl." 

'*  Then  I  must  set  out  in  a  small  boat," 
said  Coffin. 

**  Where  for?"  asked  Spike,  lifting  his 
bandaged  head. 

*'  After  the  lugger.  They  have  carried  her 
away  — the  governor  and  the  women,"  said 
the  commander. 

The  old  man  sat  up  and  swore  an  oath. 
"  The  fools!  "  he  cried.  ''  Lad,  we  must  go. 
We  must  desert  the  old  ship  an'  chase  after 
them."  He  waved  r  great  fist;  then  he 
saL'-  back  on  the  locker. 

"  Lie  still,  old  heart-of-oak,"  said  the 
commander,  gently.  **  With  this  quest  in 
front,  I  cannot  tarry  even  to  set  cup  to  the 
lips  of  my  tested  and  proven  comrade." 

He  left  the  cabin  and  went  on  deck.  He 
found  his  servant  James  pnd  sent  him  below 
to  revive  the  master  with  spirits.     Then  he 


•ii 


I)  '.- 


Nffji 


lilt 


l'  '  s  'I  I 


iiil: 


[1/ : 


176  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


called  for  volunteers  to  join  him  in  the  chase 
of  the  lugger  even  into  the  harbor  of  St. 
John's,  if  need  be.  Every  sound  man  came 
forward,  and  many  who  were  not  sound 
crawled  to  him  along  the  deck.  The  brave 
fel'ows  believed  that  Harold  Coffin  could  suf- 
fer neither  death  nor  defr       n  action. 

"Lads,"   said  he,   "  ^our   devotion   and 
courage  swell   my  heart  with   pride  —  and 
'tis  a  sore  heart,  too.    But  in  reason  I  cpr. 
not  take  more  than  four  of  you  away  froiu 
the  old  ship." 

Then  he  selected  four  of  the  six  who  had 
followed  him  so  heroically  up  to  the  last  slash- 
ing of  blades  in  the  plantation.  A  skiff  was 
provisioned.  The  five  dropped  into  her  and 
the  little  red  sail  was  hoisted.  As  they  sped 
into  the  great  bay  an  angry  shouting  from 
the  "  Good  Fortune  '*  reached  their  ears.  It 
was  MacAllister  demanding  to  be  taken 
along  with  them.  The  men  looked  inquir- 
ingly at  their  commander.  Harold  Coffin 
shook  his  head ;  and  the  skiff  continued  to 
race  along  on  her  course. 


CHAPTER  Xni 


WITH   THE   PRISONERS 


Governor  Duwaney,  Elizabeth  and  the 
women  of  Bristol's  Hope  sat  in  the  waist  of 
the  lugger,  disconsolate,  and  huddled  close 
like  sheep  in  a  ferry.  The  governor  was  in 
a  terrible  state  of  mind,  and  it  was  only  in 
consideration  of  the  feelings  of  his  daughter 
and  the  other  women  that  he  refrained  from 
falling  upon  his  captors  and  forcing  them  to 
kill  him.  Elizabeth  sat  beside  him  on  the 
deck,  with  her  cheek  against  his  shoulder, 
dry-eyed  but  white  as  paper.  Some  of  the 
women  sobbed;  some  lay  in  the  listless  si- 
.<}nce  of  despair.  Old  Susan  March,  who  had 
seen  her  husband  cut  down  before  her  eyes, 
sat  with  her  corded,  knotty  hands  clinched  in 
her  lap,  muttering  curses.  Sometimes  her 
eyes  met  the  glaring  orbs  of  the  governor, 
and  so  for  a  little  while  they  would  curse  in 
unison. 

177 


If 


m 


r 

w 

1 

1 1 

1* 

i 

1 

|S   I 


l-l 


Ift: 


131 


if  i 


i 


I 


( 


I 


ii 


178  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


The  littlo  vessel  slid  along  over  easy  seas. 
The  rough  fellows  who  manned  her  were 
sullen,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  colony 
was  destroyed  and  that  they  themselves  were 
safe  away  with  a  valuable  cargo  of  prisoners. 
These  prisoners  were  worth  two  thousand 
pounds  to  them  if  a  penny.    Their  plan  was 
to  take  them  to  a  little,  hidden  cove  with 
which  they  were  familiar,  there  to  keep  them 
until  Duwaney's  blood  was  sufficiently  cool 
to  permit  of  his  penning  an  order  on  St. 
John's  or  Guy's  Colony  tor  the  desired  sum. 
Then  would  the  honest  sons  of  toil  cnsh  the 
order,  after  which  tliey  would  feel  free  to 
liberate  the  prisoners  somewhere  witliin  a 
day's  march  of  a  convenient  plantation.   But 
they  were  sullen.    They  had  seen  the  burn- 
ing   brigs    and    sliattered    lugger    of    their 
friends,  and  many  a  sine^vy  messmate  lying 
stiff.    Also,  to  tell  the  truth,  the  sobs  of  the 
women  and  the  wliite,  terrified  face  of  the 
governor's  daughter  touched  them  unpleas- 
antly deep  down  in  their  bully  liearts.    They 
were  of  the  West  Country  — and  so  were 
these  sobbing  women,  and  this  pale  young 


With  the  Prisoners 


179 


lady.  Sacred  was  the  fish-trade  and  sacred 
were  the  rights  of  the  Devon  fishermen  in 
the  Newfoundland,  and  detestable  were  all 
plantations  and  all  colonies  in  the  foggy 
island;  but  these  women  were  painfully  like 
other  women  far  away  beyond  the  rocking 
seas. 

The  men  of  the  lugger  were  crowded  for- 
ward and  aft.  The  skipper,  unable  to  con- 
tain his  discomfiture  at  the  distress  of  the 
women  any  longer,  spoke  down  to  the  be- 
draggled, muttering  Duwaney.  "  Iley,  you 
Governor  Rum-and-water, "  he  hailed,  *'  tell 
the  poor  lasses  as  how  no  harm  be  a-comin' 
to  they.  Tell  'em  as  how  we'll  land  'em  all, 
safe  an'  sound,  as  soon  as  ye  sets  yer  hand 
to  a  order  for  two  thousands  o'  pounds." 

"I'll  set  my  hand  to  a  very  different  sort 
of  order,  you  black-hearted,  murdering  pi- 
rate," replied  Duwaney.  "I'll  put  my  pen 
to  an  order  that'll  set  you  all  a-swing  by 
your  dirty,  treasonous  necks.  I'll  set  you 
flapping  in  the  wind!  I'll  feed  you  to  the 
lobsters!  "^ou'll  dance  the  devil's  horn-pipe, 
you  misguided  ruffians!  " 


i  . 


!4I 


180  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


4  if  » 


<« 


Not  8o  fast,  old  punch-an'-pap,"  re- 
torted the  skipper.  '•  In  a  day  or  two  ye '11 
talk  with  yer  other  jaw.  When  ye've  had 
nought  to  drink  but  water  for  a  while  ye '11 
not  feel  so  close-fisted.  \\Tiat  be  a  few  bits 
o'  dirty  gold  agin  the  salt  tears  o'  yer  daugh- 
ter an'  all  them  poor  women?  Tell  me  that, 
ye  old  sinner." 

"  Do  you  talk  to  me  I  "  cried  the  governor. 
*'  Do  I  hear  you  talk  of  women's  tears  — 
you  who  have  fired  their  homes  and  slain 
their  lads !  By  that  same  word  will  I  see  the 
fear  of  death  upon  you  yet,  as  surely  as 
there  is  a  God  in  heaven.  Oh,  you  miserable 
fool!  Do  you  not  know  that  the  lads  who 
sank  your  brigs  and  killed  your  beastly  com- 
rades will  soon  be  at  your  heels?  Mark  my 
words,  you  ruffians  — Coffin  and  Spike  will 
be  putting  the  point  and  edge  to  you  afore 
you  are  two  days  older." 

"  Easy  does  it.  Ye '11  be  rilin'  my  bilge 
if  ye  don't  mind  yer  tongue,  old  sherry 
cask,"  returned  the  skipper.  His  men  grum- 
bled uneasily,  staring  down  at  the  governor 
and  the  women  with  something  not  unlike 


With  the  Prisoners 


181 


almighty 


shame  in  their  eyes.  '*  Them 
discomfortable  names  — Coffin 
said  one. 

"  Aye,  there'll  be  no  good  come  o'  this 
dragvrin'  the  poor  lasses  and  the  old  women 
about,  sure's  blood's  red,"  muttered  an- 
other. 

The  skipper  turned  and  silenced  the  grum- 
blers with  a  sneer  and  a  curse. 

The  governor  felt  easier  in  his  temper,  if 
not  in  his  mind,  after  his  argmnent  with  the 
skipper.  Withdrawing  his  attention  from 
his  captors  he  spoke  quietly  to  his  fellow- 
sufferers,  assuring  them  that  he  intended  to 
do  everything  in  his  power  to  sa^^e  them  from 
further  misfortune.  Some  of  thr  women 
stilled  their  sobbing;  but  old  Susa  March, 
who  had  neither  moaned  nor  shed  a  tear, 
fixed  her  bright  old  eyes  r»u  the  gov- 
ernor. 

"  It  be  a  late  day  now  to  save  us,  sir  — 
now  that  the  lads  be  dead  an'  the  roofs  fallen 
in,"  said  she.  "An'  for  why  be  they  dead? 
Didn't  they  fight  like  heroes,  the  poor  ladsT 
Aye,  old  an'  young,  straight  an'  crooked, 


if 

f-; 


U 


il 


in'  'l;i 


iil 


4-i 


't    ! 


*  t 


182  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


Ihey  plied  the  steel  like  men.  Not  for  lack 
o'  courage  nor  lack  o'  strength  be  they  dead 
an'  bleedin'  now,  but  for  lack  o'  fit  men  to 
head  'em,  poor  dears.  To  ye  an'  MacAllis- 
ter  did  tliey  look  for  guidance  —  to  a  bumble- 
brained  marchant  an'  a  struttin'  young  cock 
who  has  no  more  knowledge  o'  soldierin' 
than  me  o'  sailin'  ships.  A  fool  could  see 
it,  sir  —  aye,  or  an  old  woman.  Ye  did  not 
keep  the  lads  together.  Ye  called  'em  away 
from  the  rocks  an'  crowded  'em  into  the 
houses.  Ye  lost  the  cannons  — an'  then, 
when  they  was  pointin'  fair  at  us,  ye  sent 
the  lads  out  to  win  'em  back.  Lord !  Lord ! 
An'  ye  with  a  sword  at  yer  side  an'  not 
enough  wit  to  beat  off  a  pace!  o'  fishermen! 
I  tell  'e,  sir,  if  Master  Coffin  had  bin  ashore 
ye'd  be  settin'  snug  in  yer  own  house  this 
very  minute  — an'  my  man  — aye,  ye  fat 
hound,  ye  may  well  hang  yer  head!  " 

Yes,  Master  Thomas  Duwaney,  governor 
of  Bristol's  Hope  and  a  one-time  alderman  of 
the  great  town  of  Bristol,  had  his  chin  on  his 
chest,  beyond  a  shadow  of  doubt.  Further- 
more, his  fat  hands  were  pressed  to  his  fat 


With  the  Prisoners 


188 


a    vain    attempt    to    conceal    his 


face    in 
tears. 

At  this  extraordinary  and  pitiful  sight  of 
the  governor  so  utterly  broken  in  spirit,  all 
the  women   became   silent  and   motionless. 
The  men  of  the  lugger,  who  had  not  caught 
the  import  of  the  old  woman's  low-spoken 
words,  did  not  see  that  anything  unusual  had 
taken  place  among  the  captives.    Elizabeth, 
without   so   mucli   as  a   glance   at  the  old 
woman,  tried  to  comfort  her  father.     Now 
there  was  color  in  her  cheeks  again.     She 
patted  the  poor  gentleman's  quaking  shoul- 
der, murmured  words  of  comfort  in  his  ear 
and  touched  her  lips  to  his  forehead.     At 
last  Duwaney  lowered  his  hands  from  his 
wet  and  twisted  face  and  clutched  the  hands 
of  the  girl ;   but  it  was  at  old  Susan  March 
that  he  looked.    «*  Susan,  you  speak  truth -^ 
God  forgive  me !   I  was  not  fit  to  have  charge 
of  those  fine  lads." 

But  the  old  woman  did  not  reply.     She, 
too,  was  crying  at  last. 

The  lugger  held  steadily  eastward.    The 
sun  went  down  and  night  flooded  over  the 


184  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


M 


11  • 

I!'  ► 


,  <i 


■1    i 


'i 

* 

I         1 


\i  ■> 


Hi!^  ' 


I: 


M 


'I 


1 


great  bay,  and  still  she  fled  on  the  wind. 
The  skipper  tried  to  rouse  the  governor 
again,  but  found  him  unresponsive.  Blan- 
kets and  tarpaulins  were  spread  over  the 
captives.  Elizabeth  slept,  with  her  head  on 
her  father's  shoulder  and  his  right  arm 
around  her.  The  governor  did  not  sleep,  but 
sat  with  his  back  against  the  cold  timber  of 
the  bulwarks  and  stared  blindly  into  the 
shadowy  night.  The  lugger  showed  no 
light,  but  slipped  along  the  dim  coast 
like  the  shadow  of  a  bird  upon  the 
water. 

The  hours  crawled  by,  and  no  minute  of 
them  found  the  governor  nodding.  Wide- 
eyed,  motionless  and  humble,  he  kept  watch 
in  the  crowded  waist  of  the  lugger.  His  poor 
foot  ached  and  burned;  but  so  severe  was 
liis  mental  suffering  that  he  gave  no  heed  to 
the  physical.  He  was  cold  and  sore  in  every 
bone  and  fibre.  A  cut  in  his  left  shoulder, 
awkwardly  bandaged,  had  benumbed  the  arm 
from  wrist  to  collar-bone.  His  other  side 
was  stiff  from  the  constrained  position  that 
it  had  maintained  for  so  many  weary  hours. 


With  the  Prisoners 


185 


But  in  the  bitterness  of  his  soul  he  felt  noth- 
ing of  all  this.    Again  he  lived  through  those 
humiliating,  frenzied  scenes  of  defeat ;  again 
he  saw  the  futility  of  his  and  MacAllister's 
untrained  efforts  to  withstand  the  attack; 
agaiii  he  saw  the  strong  position  lost,  the 
brave  men  sacrificed,  the  blunders  commit- 
ted.    Coffin  and  Spike  had  won  a  victory 
against  appalling  odds,  whereas  he  had  suf- 
fered defeat  with  the  odds  heavily  in  his 
favor.    Never  before  in  all  his  long  career 
had  his   pride   been  laid   so  low.     Having 
lacerated  his  soul  with  a  pitiless  review  of 
the  past  day's  work,  he  at  last  began  to  grope 
forward  in  a  half-hearted  search  for  some 
means  of  making  a  partial  recovery  of  his 
people's  fortunes.     Neither  money  nor  the 
best  will  in  the  world  can  resurrect  the  dead ; 
but  burned  houses  can  be  rebuilt  with  new 
timber.    Thanks  to  Coffin's  and  Spike's  valor 
and  skill,  the  snug  harbor  was  still  in  the 
hands  of  the  Company.    In  this  respect,  at 
least,  the  victory  of  the  fishermen  had  proved 
a  fruitless  one.     First  of  all,  Duwaney  de- 
cided to  write  the  order  for  two  thousand 


if 


188  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


^'1 


Mi 


4 


I    ' 

i 


fi 


pounds  at  an  early  hour  of  the  next  day  and 
so  secure  the  women  from  further  suffering, 
as  far  as  was  in  his  power.    But  he  sorely 
begrudged  that  good  money  to  the  robbers, 
for  two  thousands  of  pounds  would  go  far 
toward  re-establishing  the  plantation.    Per- 
haps daylight    ^ould  disclose   some   pleas - 
anter  and  cheaper  way  of  settling  with  the 
ruffians.    Great  was  the  old  man's  faith  in 
Harold  Coffin  since  his  glimpse  of  the  burn- 
ing, shattered  brigs ;  and  he  would  have  felt 
no  surprise  if  Coffin  had  suddenly  stepped 
aboard  Ihe  lugger,  miraculously  out  of  the 
shadowed  waters,  and  smitten  the  crew  to 
submission  single-handed. 

At  last  dawn  broke  gray  over  the  gray  sea. 
The  lugger  was  out  of  the  Bay  of  Concep- 
tion, rounding  the  southern  cape.  Eliza- 
beth awoke  and  sat  upright.  The  governor 
groaned  and  slipped  sideways  to  the  dew- 
wet  deck,  in  a  swoon;  and  at  the  same  mo- 
ment, in  the  growing  light,  a  large  vessel 
was  seen  about  a  mile  to  seaward  of  the 
lugger,  heading  northward  under  easy  sail. 
The  sight  of  this  ship  caused  such  uneasiness 


With  the  Prisoners 


187 


in  the  hearts  of  the  skipper  and  crew  that 
only  Elizabeth  and  the  women  gave  heed  to 
the  governor's  trouble.  The  girl  chafed  her 
father's  cold,  limp  hands  between  her  own 
chilled  palms.  Old  Susan  March  screamed 
to  the  skipper  to  bring  rum  quickly  or  he 
would  lose  his  prize.  The  fellow  cast  a  hur- 
ried glance  at  the  prostrate  governor  and 
again  turned  his  gaze  to  the  seaward  ship, 
but,  realizing  the  truth  of  the  old  dame's 
words,  he  sent  a  man  into  the  waist  with  a 
flask  of  rum. 

And  now  action  was  swift,  like  a  fine, 
stamping  scene  on  a  play-house  stage.  The 
ship  altered  her  course  and  drew  in  upon  the 
lugger.  In  silent  reply,  the  lugger  shook  oiit 
a  reef.  The  ship  crowded  dowTi  upon  her, 
as  if  determined  to  force  her  ashore,  and  let 
fly  with  her  bow-chaser.  The  shot  skipped 
twice  on  the  water  and  ^^anished  in  a  ^purt 
of  white  spray.  One  of  the  women  screr.med ; 
and  the  governor,  having  admitted  about  a 
gill  of  rum  between  his  teeth,  coughed  vio- 
lently and  opened  his  eyes. 

"Lord !  my  poor  foot !  "  he  cried.    Clutch- 


I 


188  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


Wi  ■ 


^ 

I- 
■X- 


m 

■  4   i    I  '1 


I'  I 


ing  Elizabeth  with  his  uninjured  arm,  he  sat 
bolt  upright  and  glared  around  him.  His 
eyes  fixed  immediately  upon  the  ship  with 
the  plume  of  white  smoke  thinning  at  her 
bows.  "  Mark  you,  'tis  the  '  Good  For- 
tune,' "  he  cried.  *'  Coffin  has  oome  to  our 
rescue!  Did  I  not  tell  you  so?  "  In  his  ex- 
citement he  tried  to  get  to  his  feet ;  but  his 
cramped  limbs  would  neither  lift  nor  support 
him. 

The  skipper  headed  the  lugger  for  a  nar- 
row break  in  the  low  cliffs  and  sneered  sar- 
donically at  Duwaney.  "  What,  the  *  Good 
Fortune*  '  "  he  exclaimed.  "  Nay,  nay,  my 
rare  old  rum-butt.  Ye  be  out  o'  the  pan  an' 
into  the  fire  now,  for  certain.  Yonder  craft 
he's  a  pirate  ship  as  sure  as  ye '11  smell  brim- 
stone in  hell." 

Duwaney 's  heart  sank  at  that  and  the 
lightings  of  triumph  faded  from  his  protu- 
berant eyes.  **  But  what  are  you  about,  you 
flea-bit,  mangy  knave?  "  he  cried.  **  Would 
you  drown  us  all  in  the  surf,  you  benighted 
son  of  a  hook-an 'liner!  Have  a  care  where 
you  steer  to,  for  the  love  of  Heaven!  " 


h 


I   ' 


With  the  Prisoners 


180 


<( 


Ye'U  not  drown,  I  promise  ye,  ye  foul- 
mouthed  old  bag  o'  malt,"  replied  the  other, 
viciously,  ' '  1  bain 't  such  a  fool,  quite,  as  to 
spill  two  thousands  o'  golden  canaries  into 
the  surf.  If  death  overtakes  ye,  old  rum- 
an '-water,  'twill  be  high  an'  dry  ashore,  I 
do  assure  'e.  If  ye  die  to-day,  'twill  be  of 
a  slit  gizzard  more  like  nor  a  paunch-full  o' 
salt  water." 

The  governor's  bravado  evaporated  in  two 
winks.  '*  Save  us  all  from  the  pirates  and 
there'll  be  another  thousand  on  the  order," 
he  begged.  The  skipper  nodded.  The  lugger 
sped  on  toward  the  narrow,  spray-hedged 
portal  in  the  rocky  ramparts  of  the  coast. 
Already  the  ship  had  come  rbreast  of  her  and 
two  boats  were  being  lowered  away.  Then 
a  strange,  sweet  conviction  awoke  suddenly, 
full-flamed,  in  Elizabeth's  heart.  She 
crouched  upon  her  knees,  slipped  her  arms 
around  her  father's  neck  and  set  her  lips 
close  to  his  ear. 

**  It  is  not  a  pirate  ship,"  she  whispered. 
"It  is  the  'Jaguar'  —  Captain  Percy's 
ship  —  I  know.     We  are  saved,  dear,  as 


if] 


ft 


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fi 


, 


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if 

I 


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1, ;  •   ' 

,;  .1  i 


II! 

'»■■ 


It! 


190  A  Captain  of  Raleigh»s 


surely  as  if  it  were  the  *  Good  Fortune.' 
Thank  Godl  Thank  God  for  sending 
him!" 

The  governor  had  heard  the  story  of 
Percy's  visit  aboard  the  **  Good  Fortune." 
He  had  said  some  bitter  things,  at  the  time, 
in  reference  to  masterless  men  and  erring 
captains  in  general  and  John  Percy  in  par- 
ticular; but  now,  at  the  name,  he  looked 
across  the  water  with  hope  mightily  renewed 
in  his  breast.  **  My  prayers  have  been 
heard,"  he  murmured.  Perhaps  so.  Who 
knows?  The  girl,  however,  gazed  at  him  in 
open  amazement  even  in  that  time  of  stress, 
for  though  she  had  frequently  heard  the 
name  of  the  Creator  on  her  father's  lips  it 
had  never  been  in  the  form  or  manner  of 
prayer. 

The  lugger  flew  between  the  spouting  rocks 
and  into  the  haven  of  a  little  cove.  At  the 
back  of  the  cove  the  cliff  was  broken  and 
tumbled  seaward,  and  devious  rock-encum- 
bered passages  led  upward  at  a  sharp  slant 
to  the  edge  of  a  brown  barren.  Down  came 
the  great  sail ;  oars  were  thrust  overside  and 


With  the  Prisoners 


191 


Btrong  arms  seized  the  prisoners  and  dragged 
them  to  their  feet.  Then  the  lugger,  with 
much  bumping,  grindinj?  and  quaking,  set- 
tled a  full  quarter  of  her  length  on  the  grad- 
ual land-wash. 


II 


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3 

I 


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■ 


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I      I', 


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H    ' 


hill 

m  \ 

itii  ^ 


CHAPTER   XIV 

CAPTAIN    PERCY   TO  THE   RESCUE 

Now  the  morning  sunshine  was  gilding  the 
tops  of  the  rocks  that  hemmed  in  the  little 
cove.  The  edge  of  the  barren  above  the 
broken  cliff  was  warm  and  aglow.  The  round 
of  sky  overhead  was  blue  as  a  noon-day 
shadow  on  March  snow.  Though  the  surf 
spouted  and  thundered  at  the  rocky  portals 
the  little  waves  broke  softly  along  tlie  shingle 
within.  Nature  was  at  peace  in  this  corner 
of  her  vast  dominions  —  but  not  so  the  sons 
of  men. 

All  was  confp  'on  and  strenuous  effort 
aboard  the  beached  lugger.  Some  of  the  men 
caught  up  cutlasses,  muskets  and  ammuni- 
tion, leaped  ashore,  ran  across  the  narrow 
shingle  and  began  the  steep  and  twisting 
ascent  to  the  barren.  Others  seized  roughly 
upon  the  women  and  the  governor,  lifted 
them  overside  and  dragged  them  through  the 

192 


Captain  Percy  to  the  Rescue      193 

shallow  water.  One  of  the  women  uttered  a 
scream  so  shrill  and  strong  that  the  eelioes 
of  it  rang  back  and  forth,  from  rock  to  rock, 
with  80  terrific  a  note  that  a  dozen  gulls 
dashed  from  their  retreats  in  the  cliffs  and 
beat  out  of  the  cove  or  circled  high  above  it. 
The  offending  woman  was  gagged  in  a  sec- 
ond; and  a  burly  fellow  hoisted  her  to  his 
shoulder  as  if  she  were  a  bag  of  meal  and 
started  up  the  difficult  path  without  more 
ado. 

The  skipper  and  nnother  brought  Duwaney 
wallowing  and  spluttering  to  the  beac^^  like 
a  wounded  walrus.  One  can  imagine  the 
effect  of  such  treatment  on  a  fat,  aching, 
hot-tempered  man  with  a  gouty  foot.  The 
ex-alderman  of  Bristol  was  fighting-mad, 
blind-mad.  He  roared  like  a  monarch  of  the 
polar  ice,  reeled  against  the  skipper,  knocked 
him  flat  and  beat  him  on  the  bearded  face 
with  his  fat  fists.  His  rage  was  so  reckless 
and  the  pain  in  his  foot  so  agonizing  that  he 
was  past  caring  (for  the  moment)  whether 
he  was  killed  or  set  free  so  long  as  he  did 
some  damage  to  his  captors.    His  movements 


'   ! 


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mm 


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-; 


k      : 


> 


M. 


If 
if  i 


!    ,    f  ,1 


( 


194  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


were  like  those  of  a  bear,  heavy  but  swift. 
He  snatched  a  dirk  from  the  belt  of  the  pros- 
trate skipper,  flung  himself  around  upon  the 
man  who  had  hohl  of  his  collar  and  sent  that 
astonished  imli\idual  to  glory  with  five 
inches  of  steel  between  his  ribs.  He  bellowed 
a  challenge,  squatting  and  glaring  around 
him;  but  now  the  beach  was  empty  of  both 
captors  and  captives.  One  fellow  turned, 
half-way  up  the  boulder-strewn  slope,  and 
discharged  a  pistol  at  the  old  man.  But  the 
bullet  flew  wide.  The  skipper  suddenly 
rolled  over,  scrambled  to  his  feet  and  fled 
upon  the  way  his  men  had  gone.  Duwaney 
hurled  the  dirk  after  him;  but  it  fell  short 
and  clattered  harmlessly  on  the  stones. 

At  that  moment  one  of  the  boats  from  the 
ship  appeared  at  the  entrance  of  the  cove, 
between  the  spume-flinging  jaws  of  rock, 
weighted  to  the  gunwales  with  armed  men. 
The  eight  long  oars  bent,  flashed  and  bent 
again,  and  the  boat  raced  in  between  the  hiss- 
ing white  and  green.  Then  the  second  boat 
appeared.  Duwaney  stood  up  for  one  dizzy 
moment,  waved  his  right  hand,  staggered 


Captain  Percy  to  the  Rescue      195 

and  fell  unconscious.  His  recent  activities 
had  opened  the  wound  in  his  left  shoulder, 
and  for  the  past  five  minutes  his  blood  had 
been  escaping  freely,  all  unheeded. 

Captain  Percy  was  first  ashore;  but  his 
men  were  close  at  his  heels.  He  paused,  for 
a  second,  above  the  unconscious  governor. 
•'  I  do  believe  'tis  old  Duwaney,  of  Bristol's 
Hope,"  he  murmured.  Then  he  turned  to 
one  of  his  lads  and  told  him  to  see  to  the 
old  gentleman's  hurts.  He  stepped  across 
the  body  of  the  fellow  whom  Duwaney  had 
killed,  with  no  more  than  a  downward  glance, 
and  ran  across  the  beach  and  up  the  slope 
that  led  to  the  barren.  All  his  men  followed 
hard  save  the  lad  who  was  busy  with  binding 
the  governor's  shoulder.  The  second  boat 
touched  the  beach  and  disgorged  La  eager 
crew;  and  these  too  went  hot-foot  on  the 
trail  of  the  fugitive  kidnappers. 

By  this  time  Elizabeth  had  ceased  her 
frantic  efforts  to  fling  herself  from  the  arms 
of  her  carrier.  A  great  ill-smelling  blanket 
over  her  head  had  stifled  her  screams;  and 
now  she  neither  cried  out  nor  struggled.  The 


i  .. 


I 


I 


i 


! 


196  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


first  panic  had  spent  itself  and  now  she  was 
alert  and  clear-headed.     She  did  not  doubt 
that  the  ship  that  had  changed  its  course  and 
given  chase  to  the  lugger  was  the  *'  Ja- 
guar; "  and  her  heart  told  her  that  John 
Percy  was  not  the  man  to  turn  aside  from 
a  pursuit  to  which  he  had  once  set  his  feet. 
She  had  seen  the  boats  lowered  from  the  ships 
and  knew  that  the  rescuers  must  now  be  hot 
on  the  trail  of  the  kidnappers.     The  fellow 
who  carried  her  held  her  doubled  over  his 
right  shoulder  face  downward.    He  had  be- 
gun to  run  as  soon  as  the  desperate  scramble 
up  the  broken  cliff  had  been  accomplished; 
and  still  he  ran,  though  heavily.    Sometiuies 
he    stumbled,    jolting    Elizabeth    painfully. 
Even  through  the  blanket  she  could  hear  his 
gruff  voice  raised  in  curses  at  her  weight. 
She  was  no  wisp  of  womankind,  'tis  true; 
but  no  man  in  a  decent  frame  of  mind  would 
have  grumbled  at  the  burden.    Now  his  feet 
rang   on   rocky   hummocks    and   now   they 
squashed  through  marshy  levels.    At  last  he 
halted,  stood  for  a  few  seconds  swaying  and 
gasping,  then  slid  the  girl  to  the  ground, 


Captain  Percy  to  the  Rescue      197 


seized  her  again  and  hoisted  her  to  his  other 
shoulder.  As  he  stumbled  forward  again  a 
musket-shot  rang  out.  This  sent  him  along 
at  an  astonishing  and  dangerous  pace.  Other 
shots  boomed  and  banged  in  the  rear,  the 
reports  thumping  dully  upon  Elizabeth's 
muflBed  ears.  The  fellow  tripped  and  stum- 
bled to  his  knees,  and  loosed  his  clutch  on 
his  prisoner.  Her  feet  touched  the  ground. 
Quick  as  a  flash,  she  hurled  all  her  weight 
against  the  kneeling,  unbalanced  kidnapper. 
Breathless  and  surprised,  he  toppled  side- 
ways between  two  granite  boulders.  The 
girl  threw  the  blanket  from  her,  glanced 
around  and  then  began  to  run  at  top  speed 
in  the  direction  of  the  firing. 

The  scene  was  strange  and  thrilling  — at 
once  inspiring  and  appalling,  full  of  life  and 
marred  by  death.  On  one  hand  lay  the  blue, 
sun-shimmering  spaces  of  the  sea  and  on  the 
other  the  smoky  ramparts  of  distant  hills. 
Overhead  curved  the  flawless  sky  of  spring- 
time and  the  north ;  and  around  spread  the 
treeless  barren,  warm-brown  and  tenderly 
green  over  the  moist  levels  and  gray  and  pink 


fHij 

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1   * 


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( 

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i 


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n 


198  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


on  the  knolls  of  granite.  Here  were  men  run- 
ning, with  burdens  in  their  arms;  and  here 
were  men  pursuing.  There  a  fugitive  had 
turned  and  discharged  his  pistols  and  was 
now  dragging  a  struggling  woman  forward 
again.  And  here  was  Elizabeth  Duwaney 
running  with  swlT-ling  skirts  and  flashing 
ankles,  bare-headed  and  dishevelled  —  and 
close  behind  hrr  the  man  from  whom  she  had 
escaped,  clutching  at  her  flying  garments. 
But  the  rogue's  hairy  paw  did  not  gain  a  grip 
—  for  Captain  Percy,  appearing  suddenly  on 
the  top  of  a  hummock  on  the  left  and  catch- 
ing sight  of  the  race,  discharged  a  pistolet 
with  such  amazing  success  that  the  pursuer 
pitched  forward  like  a  shot  rabbit.  His  head 
struck  one  of  the  girl's  heels  and  she,  too, 
pitched  violently  to  the  ground. 

Elizabeth  lay  still,  uninjured  but  breath- 
less and  desperately  shaken.  Percy,  think- 
ing that  the  fellow  had  struck  her  with  a 
knife  at  the  very  moment  that  the  bullet  had 
collapsed  him,  uttered  a  cry  of  consternation 
and  ran  swiftly  to  where  she  lay.  He 
dropped  his  sword  and  pistol,  knelt  and  ten- 


Captain  Percy  to  the  Rescue 


199 


derly  raised  her  head  upon  his  arm,  thus 
disclosing  her  fair  face  to  his  anxious  scru- 
tiny. Their  ghmces  met  and  held.  Messages 
of  light,  wonderfully  clear  and  intimate, 
passed  between  them  in  that  magic  time  of 
silence  and  communion. 

'*  Thank  GodI  "  breathed  John  Percy,  at 
last. 

The  girl's  eyes  turned  from  his  and  her 
pale  cheeks  and  brow  flamed  red.  A  faint 
sigh  escaped  her. 

"  Heavens!  are  you  hurt?  "  cried  Percy. 

**  No.  No,  I  am  not  hurt,"  she  replied,  un- 
steadily. **  But  my  poor  father!  Where  is 
he?  I  fear  —  T  fear  I  forgot  him  —  for  the 
moment. ' ' 

"  He  is  safe,  I  assure  you,"  replied  Cap- 
tain Percy,  tenderly.  *'  He  is  on  ihe  beach, 
with  nothing  ailing  him,  I  think,  but  a  cut 
in  the  shoulder.  Do  not  move,  I  pray  you. 
You  are  weak  — and  your  father  is  being 
cared  for." 

She  let  her  head  sink  back  again  upon  his 
arm.  "  And  the  others?  Are  they  safe?  " 
she  whispered. 


■;< 


¥\i 


I.* 


li 


til  *'      ' 


;i 


:r 


'  ,'i 


200  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


**  My  lads  are  seeing  to  that,  even  now,'* 
replied  Percy. 

Elizabeth  sat  up,  remained  so  for  a  little 
while  and  then  got  slowly  to  her  feet.  She 
felt  shaken  and  sore  in  every  bone  but 
strangely  light  of  heart.  The  man  arose, 
too,  and  stood  very  close  to  her,  eying  her 
anxiously  and  with  a  tender  air  of  protection 
and  liomage.  "  You  are  weak,"  he  said. 
**  You  must  be  careful  not  to  exert  yourself 
just  now.  Let  me  support  you,  Mistress 
Duwaney." 

She  looked  at  him  and  smiled.  She  swayed 
a  little  with  weariness.  For  a  moment  he 
hesitated ;  then,  swiftly  and  tenderly,  he  put 
his  arm  about  her  round  and  slender  young 
waist  and  drew  her  against  his  shoulder. 

"  You  were  about  to  fall  in  a  swoon,"  he 
stammered.  And  then,  **  On  the  very  in- 
stant that  I  sighted  the  lugger  a  voice  cried 
within  me  that  you  were  in  danger,"  he 
added,  hastily. 

The  girl's  heart  was  in  a  delicious  turmoil 
by  now.  She  wondered  if  he  could  feel  her 
body  shaking  with  the  mad,  uncontrollable 


Captain  Percy  to  the  Rescue      £01 


pulsing  of  it.  Iler  cheeks  were  aglow  and 
her  breath  seemed  to  catch  in  her  throat. 

Percy  felt  her  tremble  against  him  and  in 
wonder  and  concern  saw  her  lift  her  hands 
to  her  fjice. 

"  You  are  cold,"  he  exclaimed.  *'  We 
must  have  a  fire.  No,  we  must  hasten  aboard 
the  ship,  where  you  can  get  warmth  and 
food." 

**  Please  take  rae  to  my  father,"  she  said. 
"  He  was  wounded  yesterday  and  suffered 
dreadfully  throughout  the  night.    He  needs 


me 


>> 


So  they  moved  toward  the  top  of  the 
broken  cliff  that  led  down  to  the  cove,  walk- 
ing very  slowly,  the  young  lady  still  sup- 
ported by  the  captain's  arm.  His  silver- 
mounted  pistolet  and  proven  rapier  lay 
wliere  he  had  dropped  fliem,  forgotten.  This 
was  the  first  and  only  field  on  which  Captain 
John  Percy  had  ever  left  his  weapons  behind 
him. 

At  the  top  of  the  steep  and  rugged  slope 
the  two  halted,  and  the  girl  moved  a  step 
from  Percy's  side.    They  saw  Duwaney  on 


202 


''  I 


i    I 


.,     ii 


i       X 


-.  It- 
I** 

k 


il.;  !r 


!  r 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


the  beach,  sitting  facing  them  with  his  back 
against  a  i  .ck.  He  waved  a  limp  hand  to 
them;  and  Elizabeth  waved  back  to  him. 
Then  she  turned  to  her  companion,  her  beau- 
tiful eyes  shaded  from  his  glance  by  droop- 
ing lids. 

"  How  can  we  ever  thank  you?  "  she  said 
—  "  and  the  merciful  God  who  willed  it  that 
you  sliould  happen  to  be  on  this  coast." 

"Aye,  God  be  thanked,"  replied  Percy, 
''  that  I  was  in  time  to  be  of  service.  But 
'twas  not  chance  that  bronglit  me  to  this 
coast.  In  St.  John's  a  whisper  reached  me 
that  the  fisliermen  had  planned  an  attack 
upon  Bristol's  Hope.  :\ry  informntion  was 
not  exact,  and  so  I  was  a  day  too  late  to  save 
the  plantation;  but  I  thank  God  that  tlie 
lugger  did  not  pass  me  in  the  night." 

"  It  was  but  a  lugger,  after  all,"  said 
Elizal)eth.  "  A  common  craft  in  those  wa^ 
ters,  I  should  tliink.  How  came  you  to  sus- 
pect it  of  — of  having  anytliing  to  do  with 
the  attack  on  the  settlement?  " 

"  At  the  first  sight  of  hor."  replied  Percy, 
*'  a  terrifying  thought  flashed  to  my  mind 


Captain  Percy  to  the  Rescue 


203 


that  I  was  too  late  —  that  you  were  already 
iu  danger.  1  turned  my  glass  upon  her  and 
saw  the  waist  crowded  witli  women.  Then 
I  knew  all  as  surely  as  if  it  had  been  spoken 
into  my  ear." 

The  girl  was  silent  for  a  moment.  She 
raised  her  glance  to  his  and  he  saw  gratitude, 
tears  and  a  tender  radiance  in  her  eyes. 

"  By  God!  "  he  cried,  impulsively,  "  I 
would  give  my  life  and  my  ship  for  you." 

The  girl  turned  away  from  him,  very,  very 
slowly,  as  if  vastly  against  her  wish.  "  See 
my  poor  father,"  she  murmured.  "Tie  is 
still  waving  his  arm  like  a  flail.  He  will  cntch 
his  death,  I  fear,  sitting  on  those  chilly 
stones." 

With  Percy's  assistance,  she  made  her 
way  down  the  rough  path  to  the  beach ;  but 
as  soon  as  her  feet  were  on  the  level  she  ran 
forward  and  sank  on  her  knees  beside  the 
governor.  She  bent  and  kissed  him;  and 
then,  raising  her  face,  she  caught  sight  of 
the  dead  fisherman  sprawled  close  at  hand. 

"  Did  you  fight,  dear?  Are  you 
wounded?  "  she  asked,  anxiously. 


m 


VA 


^ A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


iH 


it:    ^ 


Ml 


"  Nay,  lass,  I  got  no  fresh  wound.    But  I 
fought!    Oh,  yes,  I  fought,"  rei)lie(l  the  gov- 
ernor, with  spirit.    "  Two  to  one,  it  was  — 
and  there  lies  one  o'  the  rascals,  an'  t'other 
shammed  dead  for  a  little  while  an'  then 
scrambled  up  an'  ran  as  if  the  devil  was  after 
him.    Your  old  dad  has  the  stuff  o'  a  first- 
class    fighting-man    in    him."      Then    he 
groaned.     "  But  he  has  proved  himself  a 
poor  general,"  he  added,  dolefully,  and  he 
stared    unseeingly    at    his    daughter    and 
groaned  again. 

John  Percy  stood  before  the  two,  silent, 
observant,  hat  in  hand.    At  last,  catching  thj 
governor's   glance,   he   ventured   to   speak, 
though  he  did  not  feel  entirely  at  his  ease  in 
Thomas  Duwaney's  presence  and  with  the 
young  lady  for  audience.     He  had  heard, 
more  than  once,  of  the  old  ex-merchant's 
narrow-minded  worship  of  everything,  good 
or  bad,  that  was  legally  established,  from  a 
king  to  a  parish  bylaw,  and  of  hh.  corre- 
sponding distrust   of  everything  irregular, 
masterless  or  lawless.    Though  he  despised 
these  pettinesses  in  the  substantial  ex-alder- 


Captain  Percy  to  the  Rescue      205 

man  with  true  Percy  disdain,  he  was  anxious 
now  to  impress  the  old  man  favorably. 

'*  I  trust,  sir,  that  I  find  you  but  little  the 
worse  for  your  misadventure, ' '  he  said,  bow- 
ing. 

"  Alive,  sir,  alive.  I  can  say  no  more," 
returned  the  governor,  ungraciously.  It  irri- 
tated him  to  see  this  lawless  captain,  this 
exiled,  piratical  son  of  supercilious  earls 
bending  his  back  and  sweeping  his  hat  to  him. 
Had  this  Percy  so  accosted  him  in  England, 
law-abiding  and  on  his  own  heath,  then 
should  the  worthy  governor's  sensations  have 
been  f  the  most  lively  satisfaction;  but  here, 
and  now,  and  a  traitor  with  a  halter  await- 
ing his  neck  —  ah,  it  was  a  different  matter. 
And  now  that  the  consequential  old  fellow 
was  safe  out  of  the  hands  of  the  kidnappers 
his  humility  was  evaporating  like  mist  before 
the  sun. 

"  My  dear,"  said  Elizabeth,  **  Captain 
Percy  can  see  for  himself  that  you  are  alive 
—  and  but  for  his  timely  arrival  and  assist- 
ance you  might  be  dead.'* 

**  Tut !  Tut !  "  retorted  the  governor,  pain- 


i 


m 


I 


Iri' 


•I 


r  ■  V. 


i... 


: 


goo  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 

fully  altering  the  position  of  his  lame  foot. 
"  There  was  no  talk  of  death,  my  dear  girl. 
The  rascals  meant  nothing  more  serious  than 
robbery— yes,  and  a  stroke  at  my  political 
power.  But  they'd  never  have  dared  to  kill 
me —  me,  Thomas  Duwaney!  " 

*•  And  yet,  dear,  they  killed  many  a  brave 
lad  of  the  colony,"  said  Elizabeth.  "  In  your 
relief  at  having  me  and  the  poor  women 
safely  returned  to  your  care,  you  forget  the 
danger  we  all  were  in  so  short  a  time  ago. 
Indeed,  I  can  say  without  exaggeration,  that 
I  owe  my  life  at  least  to  Captain  Percy." 

Duwaney  grunted.  Girls  get  queer  no- 
tions in  their  heads.  He  turned  a  distrustful 
glance  upon  the  captain.  ''  I  believe,  sir, 
that  your  name  is  Percy,"  he  said. 

"  John  Percy,  at  your  service,"  replied 
the  other,  with  all  the  warmth  and  diffidence 
gone  from  his  voice.  The  girl  glanced  at  him 
apprehensively,  appealingly. 

"  Well,  sir,  you  have  saved  mo  two  thou- 
sand pounds  by  your  providential  and  timely 
arrival  on  the  scene,"  said  the  governor, 
''  and  if  you  will  return  us  all  to  Bristol's 


Captain  Percy  to  the  Rescue       207 


Hope  I  will  repay  you  for  your  trouble.  I 
am  even  willing  to  give  you  a  full  half  of  the 
sum  you  have  saved  to  me  —  one  thousand 
fat  canary  birds." 

Percy's  face  flushed  darkly  and  he  stared 
down  at  the  governor  with  so  fixed  and  stern 
a  glance  that,  for  all  his  insolence  of  improv- 
ing condition,  the  old  man  felt  misgivings 
and  began  to  fidget  and  lose  color.  If  the 
flashings  of  an  eye  could  singe  hair,  then 
should  Master  Duwaney's  scalp  most  assur- 
edly have  twisted  and  smoked. 

**  Yc  make  a  mistake,  my  good  sir,"  said 
Percy,  at  last.  *'  You  are  pleased  to  blunder 
seriously.  Perhaps  you  have  not  caught  my 
name  aright?  It  is  Percy  —  John  Percy  — 
of  the  Northumberland  family.  You  have 
heard  of  the  people,  I  suppose.  And  let  me 
tell  you  this  —  if  it  were  not  for  this  young 
lady  I'd  pick  you  up  and  pitch  you  into  the 
sea  for  your  impudence.  For  her  sake  I 
swallow  your  insults." 

The  governor  gasped ;  but  he  had  no  ap- 
propriate reply  to  make.  "V^Hiat  was  the  man 
raving  about?   he  wondered.     He  had  done 


i 

,     i 


ill 


lit! 


:n. 


208 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


nothing  to  him  but  offer  him  a  thousand 
pounds.  And  to  hear  him  rant  and  ravel 
Lord!  he  must  be  a  foo!  as  well  as  a  knave. 
And  yet  here  he  was  firm  in  his  hands  —  and 
his  daughter  and  the  women,  too.  As  was 
natural  with  the  worthy  man,  the  ease  of 
Elizabeth  and  the  women  had  Pome  to  him 
as  an  afterthought. 

Elizabeth  stood  up  and  looked  at  Captain 
Percy.  She  even  bent  toward  him  an<l  laid 
hor  hand  on  his  arm.  '*  You  must  forgive 
him,"  she  said,  gently.  *'  He  is  suffering 
terribly  in  mind  and  body  and  does  not  know 
what  he  is  saying.  Think  of  his  loss  —  of 
the  ruined  colony  and  dead  men  —  and  for- 
give him  his  mad  words.  Forgive  him — 
please  — for  my  sake." 

Percy  turned  his  eyes  from  the  governor 
to  the  girl.  All  the  scorn  and  hot  indignation 
went  out  of  his  face  and  adoration,  and  some- 
thing like  shame,  shone  in  their  stead. 

"  It  is  for  you  to  forgive  me  —  for  my  vile 
temper.  It  is  for  you  to  be  merciful,"  he 
said. 


CHAPTER   XV 


ON    BOARD   THE   **  JAOUAB  " 

DuwANEY,  Elizabeth  and  the  women  of 
Bristol's  Hope,  were  given  the  best  of  every- 
thing aboard  the  "Jaguar  "  —  the  best 
<iuarters,  food,  drink  and  care.  The  ruffians 
who  had  attempted  to  carry  them  off  were 
left  in  the  wilderness,  free  to  find  their  own 
way  out  of  the  difficulties  into  which  their 
greed  and  lawlessness  had  led  them.  A  few, 
who  had  resisted  the  lads  from  the  ship,  lay 
as  quiet  and  stiff  as  the  fellow  whom  Du- 
waney  had  knifed  in  his  brief  fit  of  valor; 
but  the  majority  of  them,  scattered  here  and 
there  behind  hummock  and  boulder,  were 
suffering  from  nothing  more  serious  than 
anger  and  chagrin  when  the  "  Jaguar  " 
turned  again  to  her  northward  course.  Du- 
waney,  had  he  thought  of  it  in  time,  would 
have  urged  Captain  Percy  to  have  every 
mother's  son  of  them  strung  up  to  the  yard- 

209 


A^ 


210  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


.;    ! 


arm  by  the  neck;   but  it  is  certain  that  the 
captain  would  have  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the 
governor's  commands,  entreaties  and  threats 
in  this  connection.    For  the  brisk,  give-and- 
take  business  of  soldiering  had  not  hardened 
so  much  as  a  fibre  of  John  Percy's  heart. 
Battles,  marches  and  voyaging  had  toughened 
him,  of  course,  and  numbed  a  few  tender  sen- 
sibilities; but  as  strong  as  ever  was  his  ab- 
horrence of  taking  the  lives  of  his  fellow- 
men  in  any  other  way  than  in  fair  and  open 
fight.     Even  in  the  name  of  justice  he  had 
never  ordered  a  hanging.    Pirates  who  had 
fallen  into  his  grasp  red  with  murder  and 
rapine,  fiends  in  human  shape  whose  very 
existence  tempted  the  wrath  of  Heaven,  were 
sent  to  a  higher  judge  with  bullets  through 
their  hearts. 

Duwaney  and  his  daughter  sat  in  the  after- 
cabin  of  the  "  Jaguar."  They  had  eaten  of 
the  best  the  lazaret  afforded,  and  the  gov- 
ernor had  disposed  of  a  punch  which  (though 
he  was  too  vain  a  man  to  say  so)  was  the  best 
admixture  of  liquors,  spiced  and  sugared,  he 
had  ever  set  his  lips  to.    The  girl  leaned  back 


On  Board  the  "Jaguar"  2il 


ngin\:<\  t>i^  bulkhead  and  closed  her  eyes. 
Du  -iwoy  toUh-'i  his  hands  on  his  stomach, 
raited  iiis  lam.  foot  to  a  padded  locker  and 
sank  his  fat  ciiin  on  his  fat  chest.  And  then, 
when  skirting  the  very  margin  of  the  delec- 
taHe  country  of  sleep,  a  queer  thought 
prodded  his  mind.  He  sat  up  with  a 
grunt. 

*'Hah!"   he   exclaimed.     "I'd   entirely 
forgotten  them." 

This  brought  Elizabeth  back  from  the  de- 
licious verge  of  slumber. 

"  What  is  it,  dear?  What  have  you  for- 
gotten? "  she  asked. 

Her  father  answered  the  question  in  his 
own  way.  He  thumped  on  the  table  with 
his  fist  and  shouted,  ♦'  Captain  Percy!  Hi! 
Captain  Percy!  " 

Percy  appeared  immediately  —  and  the 
girl  —  leaning  against  the  bulkhead  and  veil- 
ing her  eyes  again,  wondered  if  he  had  been 
waiting  at  the  cabin  door. 

"  Anytliing  wrong,  sir?  Ta  your  daughter 
ill?  "  cried  the  captain.  He  did  not  so  much 
as  glance  an  eye  at  the  governor,  but  strode 


ft 


Hi 


I  ; 


i^!^; 

•      ,     i     J 

■   1         ■-< 

'■^ 

i  ^ 

R  i 

p>   J 

i  . 

it 

i^ 

212  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


close  to  the  table,  leaned  half-way  across  it 
and  gazed  anxiously  at  the  girl.     This  was 
not  what  Duwaney  had  expected;   so,  in  his 
displeased  astonishment,  he  gaped  for  a  sec- 
ond or  two  in  silence.    The  girl  felt  the  cap- 
tain's scrutiny.     She  tried  to  keep  her  face 
composed,  the  coloring  normal  and  the  closed 
lids  steady.    But  this  proved  more  than  she 
could  do.    The  warm  blood  tingled  in  cheeks 
and  brow,  the  white  lids  flickered  up  and,  for 
a  momentous  second,  her  eyes  shone  upon  the 
captain's  from  their  wonderful,  secret  depths 
—  shone  full  into  his,  lit  fathoms  deep  by  the 
same  magic  light   that   illumined  his  own. 
Then  the  white  lids  veiled  them  again.    But 
John  Percy  did  not  move  by  so  much  as  an 
inch  or  shift  his  gaze  by  a  hair's  breadth. 
He  stood  with  his  hands  on  the  table  among 
the  glasses  and  dishes,  his  body  bent  for- 
ward, and  his  eyes  fixed  upon  the  girl's  face 
with  all  his  heart  and  life  in  them. 

"What  the  devil!"  exclaimed  the  gov- 
ernor, at  last.  "  Rip  me!  what  d'ye  mean 
by  it?  There's  nothing  wrong  with  the  girl. 
I  called  you.     Take  your  eyes  off  her,  sir, 


On  Board  the  "Jaguar"  213 

an'  listen  to  me.  What  d'ye  mean,  sir,  by 
standiix^  there  like  a  field-dog  at  a  par- 
tridge? " 

Captain  Percy  sighed,  his  eyes  wavered 
and  his  figure  relaxed.  He  turned  to  Du- 
waney,  his  face  very  red  and  his  mouth 
twisted  in  an  apologetic  smile.  "I  —  I  beg 
your  pardon,  sir,"  he  stammered.  "  I  was 
thinking  of  something  else  —  of  the  dangers 
you  have  gone  through,  and  so  on.  My 
nerves  are  not  what  they  were.  Of  late,  sir, 
I've  been  under  an  extraordinary  severe 
strain." 

"  I  called  for  you.  Captain  Percy  speak 
of  our  prisoners,"  said  Duwaney.  *  Have 
you  disposed  of  them  yet?  " 

"  Our  prisoners,  Master  Duwaney?  Oh, 
you  mean  the  fellows  of  the  lugger,"  re- 
turned the  captain. 

The  governor  nodded.  **  What  have  you 
done  with  them?  "  he  asked. 

John  Percy  had  quite  recovered  himself, 
by  this  time.  Now  he  was  the  self-possessed 
commander  of  the  **  Jaguar  "  —  and  that 
was  a  very  different  person  from  the  fins- 


4:^ 


f:;0  . 


nIjii 


fill'l 


n 

'.r-t  I 


214  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


tered  lover  of  a  few  moments  before.  **  Ton 
my  word,  Master  Duwaney,  I  don't  catch 
your  meaning,"  he  said,  coolly. 

**  I  speak  King's  English.  I  ask  a  simple 
question,"  replied  the  other. 

"  King's  English?  "  repeated  Percy,  with 
a  bland  though  somewhat  crooked  smile.  **  If 
you  speak  King's  English  then  'tis  no  won- 
der I  fail  to  understand  you,  for  I  am  an 
Englishman  —  not  a  wild  Scot." 

The  governor  glared  and  began  to  breathe 
heavily  through  his  nose.  "  This  smacks  of 
treason,"  said  he.  "  Mark  you,  sir.  His  Maj- 
esty is  the  Lord's  anointed,  and  as  an  officer 
of  the  Crown  I'll  listen  to  — to  none  of  your 
treasonous  levity.  Again  I  ask  you,  young 
man,  in  what  manner  have  you  disposed  of 
the  piratical  fellows  who  attempted  my 
life?  " 

**  They  were  after  your  purse,  not  your 
life,"  replied  Percy. 

"  I  ask  you  a  question,"  roared  Duwaney. 

"  Which  I  have  no  intention  of  answer- 
ing," returned  the  other. 

A  strenuous  oath  exploded  from  Duwa- 


On  Board  the  "Jaguar"  215 


ney's  lips.    "D'ye  forget  who  I  am?  "  he 
cried. 

"  By  no  means,"  said  the  captain,  quietly. 
"  You  are  Thomas  Duwaney,  governor  of 
Bristol's  Hope.  I  must  call  your  attention 
to  the  fact  that  I  am  John  Percy,  commander 
of  this  ship  —  and  that,  at  the  present  mo- 
ment, you  are  my  guest." 

For  a  few  seconds  the  governor  main- 
tained a  thrilling,  high-breathing  silence. 
Then  he  said,  with  a  fair  attempt  at  self- 
control,  "  I  knew  you  to  be  a  rascally  pi- 
rate; but  I  did  not  suspect,  until  now,  that 
you  were  in  league  with  the  fellows  who 
burned  my  plantation,  slew  my  men  and  car- 
ried me  off  for  a  ransom  of  money." 

The  smile  flashed  away  from  the  captain's 
lips  and  eyes  and  the  color  dwindled  from 
his  cheeks.  Before  he  could  set  his  tongue 
to  a  word  in  reply  to  the  old  man's  astound- 
ing and  outrageous  accusation,  however,  Eliz- 
abeth sprang  to  her  feet  and  confronted  her 
father  with  flashing  eyes. 

"  Oh,  for  shame,"  she  crierl,  breathlessly. 
"You  know  — you  know  — that  what  you 


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216  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


say  is  untrue.  He  came  to  our  rescue  —  and 
now  you  heap  insult  upon  his  head.  He  feeds 
us  and  sails  us  homeward  in  his  ship  —  and 
you  sit  at  his  table  and  revile  him."  She 
turned  to  Percy  with  a  little  gesture  of  the 
hands,  as  if  she  begged  for  mercy.  "  Please 
forgive  him,"  she  whispered.  "  He  does  not 
realize  what  he  says.  Oh,  forgive  him,  I  beg 
of  you." 

John  Percy  caught  her  hands  impulsively 
in  his.  "  I  understand,"  he  said.  "  He  has 
suffered,  and  is  overwrought.  I  let  it  pass. 
Blithely  do  I  forgive  him  this  —  aye,  and  a 
thousand  times  as  much  —  for  your  sake." 

Elizabeth  looked  fairly  into  his  eyes  for  a 
fraction  of  a  second  —  and  so  he  felt  no  need 
of  any  worded  thanks.  Then,  gently  — it 
seemed  reluctantly  —  she  withdrew  her  hands 
from  his. 

"  What  is  this?  "  exclaimed  the  governor, 
his  mind  diverted  from  the  original  subject 
of  insult.  **  What  do  T  see?  D'ye  make  love 
to  my  daughter,  sir,  under  my  very  nose! 
Lord,  whnt's  the  world  coming  to!  Mv 
daughter  cries  '  shame  '  upon  me,  treats  me 


On  Board  the  "Jaguar"  217 


like  an  imbecile,  and  then  —  and  then  —  Rip 
me,  but  I'll  not  put  up  with  it." 

"  My  dear  sir,"  stammered  Percy,  with 
every  trace  *"  indignation  melted  from  his 
voice  and  the  licmor  of  confusion  in  its  place, 
"  1  hope  that  our  rough  fare  and  poor 
li«luors  have  not  proved  altogether  disagree- 
able to  you.  My  own  berth  is  at  your  dis- 
posal whenever  you  care  to  retire.  You  must 
be  worn  out  after  the  anxiety  and  hardships 
of  yesterday  and  last  night.  I  promise  you, 
if  this  wind  holds,  we'll  make  Bristol's  Hope 
soon  after  sunset." 

Duwaney's  rage  had  subsided  and  he  knew 
that  he  had  made  a  fool  of  himself.  Also, 
he  knew  that  Percy's  righteous  indignation 
had  turned  to  pity  —  to  the  kind  of  pity  that 
strong  men  feel  for  dotards  and  w-eaklings; 
but  he  shrewdly  suspected  that,  but  for  the 
captain's  interest  in  Elizabeth,  he  would 
have  had  to  answer  for  his  insult.  Yes,  his 
blind  rage  was  gone,  but  a  terrible  gloom 
en.gulfod  him,  brain  and  spirit.  He  pressed 
his  shaking  hands  to  his  face  for  a  second, 
withdrew  them  and  .£,azed  sullenly  at  his  host. 


i  1 


;  I 


I 


I 


M   I, 


iiv_ 


*'.ii/f^'^ 


218  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


**  I  appreciate  the  obligation  under  whici 
you  have  placed  me,"  he  said.  "  I  spoke 
rashly,  just  now,  for  I  am  old  and  of  an  un- 
certain temper,  and  of  a  nature  that  can- 
not stand  reverses.  Yes,  I  will  accept  the 
offer  of  your  berth,  for  every  ounce  of  my 
body  cries  for  rest." 

But  Fate  was  dead  against  the  governor's 
intention  of  retiring  just  then;  for  at  that 
moment  a  knock  came  to  the  cabin  door,  and 
a  mariner  thrust  his  head  within  and  an- 
nounced that  a  skiff  containing  Master  Coffin 
and  four  men  of  the  "  Good  Fortune  "  was 
close  aboard. 

"  The  brave  soul!  "  cried  Elizabeth.  "  He 
followed  us  — in  a  skiff  — with  only  four 
men!  " 

"  I  must  speak  with  that  young  man.  He'll 
have  news  of  the  colony.  He  knows  how  the 
fight  went  — at  the  last,"  exclaimed  Du- 
waney,  with  tragic  eagerness. 

Percy  excused  himself  and  hurried  from 
the  cabin.  A  line  had  been  thrown  from  the 
"  Jaguar's  "  bows  to  the  skiff  and  carried 
amidships;    and   by   the    time   Percy   had 


On  Board  the  "Jaguar"         219 

reached  the  deck  the  skiff  was  alongside  and 
Coffin  was  climbing  over  the  rail.  The  com- 
mander of  the  "  Good  Fortune  "  had  heard 
of  tbe  rescue  as  soon  as  he  was  within  hail- 
ing distance  of  the  ship.  He  lowered  himself 
stiffly  to  the  deck  and  grasped  Percy's  ex- 
tended hand.  "  Thank  God  you  overhauled 
them,"  he  exclaimed  fervently. 

"  You  would  have  done  it  if  I  hadn't," 
replied  the  other,  generously.  "  What  my 
friend  Harold  Coffin  goes  after  he  usually 
gets  —  whetner  in  a  skiff  with  four  men  or 
in  the  saddle  with  a  squadron  of  hussars 
behind  him." 

Coffin  smiled  at  him  wistfully.  *'  Can  you 
tell  me  what  the  devil  I'd  have  done,  even 
if  T  liad  managed  to  overhaul  them?  "  he 
asked,  leaning  weakly  against  the  bulwarks. 

**  You  would  have  cut  their  combs,  some- 
how or  other,  I'll  swear,"  replied  Percy. 
"  But  come  aft,  lad,  and  let  me  fix  you  up. 
You  look  fit  to  drop." 

Master  Coffin  made  a  sorry  figure,  and  no 
mistake.  His  face  was  the  color  of  bleached 
bone,  his  colorless  eyes  were  dim,  his  shoul- 


! ; 


: 


a 


;^|j 

''  i 

\  i' 


ggP  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 

ders  sagged  forward  and  his  linil.s  trem- 
bled. Around  his  head  he  wore  a  great, 
untidy  oh)th,  once  white  but  now  stained 
dark  red  with  blood  and  black  with  grime  of 
battle.  His  clothing  was  torn  and  stained 
and  his  left  boot  sodden  with  blood. 

'•  Yes,  I'm  nigh  spent.  I  feel  as  if  I  could 
sleep  a  year,"  he  said.  -  I'll  come  along 
with  you,  blithely;  but  may  I  order  my  lads 
aboard?  — they  have  followed  me  through 
the  whole  game." 

'^rcy  gave  orders  for  the  men  from  the 
"  wood  Fortune  "  to  be  treated  to  the  best 
and  for  the  skiff  to  be  hauled  aboard. 

Then  he  slipped  his  hand  under  Harold 
Coffin's  arm  and  led  him  aft  toward  the 
cabin.  -  The  old  cock  is  anxious  for  a  word 
with  you;  but  I'll  not  let  him  bother  you 
long,"  he  said.  -He  is  an  inconsiderate 
old  fellow -but  the  liquor  is  right  there  on 
the  table  and  I'll  pour  a  glassful  into  you 
before  he  has  time  to  ask  you  a  question." 

Coffin    smiled   wanly.     ''How   is    Eliza- 
beth? "he  asked. 

"  I  believe  she  is  none  the  worse  for  the 


On  Board  the  "Jaguar 


221 


adventure,"  r  ^lied  Percy.  "  But  tell  me, 
lad,"  he  continued,  nervously,  **  is  — is  she 
free,  d'ye  know?  " 

As  he  s[3oke  he  halted  at  the  closed  door 
of  the  cabin  and  gazed  anxiously  and  some- 
what foolishly  at  his  old  comrade-in-arms. 

"  Free?  "  queried  Coffin,  leaning  heavily 
against  him  and  smiling  wistfully.  **  Why, 
my  friend,  you  freed  her  yourself,  this  very 
day." 

"  Don't  laugh  at  me,"  pleaded  Percy. 
"  You  know  what  I  mean.  Is  she?  — is  she 
heart-free?  " 

"  Blows  the  wind  from  that  quarter?  " 
returned  Harold,  pleasantly.  "  Well,  com- 
rade, she  is  heart-free  for  all  I  know  to  the 
contrary." 

"  She  makes  a  hero  of  you,  lad,'*  said  the 
other. 

"  Aye,  a  hero,"  answered  Coffin.  "  That 
is  as  much  as  any  woman  would  care  to  make 
of  me,  I  think.  Oh,  you  need  entertain  no 
fear  of  her  heroes." 

Percy  nodded,  opened  the  cahin  door  and 
stepped  inside  with  his  hand  still  under  Har- 


«««  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


old  Coffin's  arm.  At  sight  of  the  pitiful 
figure  made  by  the  **  Good  Fortune's  "  com- 
mander Elizabeth  got  swiftly  to  her  feet 
and  the  governor  uttered  a  grunt  of  aston- 
ishment and  concern. 

'•  I  was  after  them  —  though  I  don't  think 
I  should  ever  have  caught  them,"  said 
Harold. 

Percy  helped  him  to  the  locker.  "  Sit 
down,  lad.  Lean  back,  and  never  mind  talk- 
ing," he  whispered.  He  reached  for  a  flask 
on  the  table  and  poured  some  brandy  into  a 
glass ;  but  even  as  he  turned  with  it,  Harold 
Coffin  waved  a  hand  feebly,  closed  his  eyes 
and  slid  sideways  until  he  lay  prone  and 
unconscious  on  the  cushioned  locker. 


CHAPTER   XVI 

CAPTAIN    PERCY    HAS   TO    FACE    A   SERIOUS   PROP- 
OSITION 

The  combined  attentions  of  Elizabeth  I)ii- 
waney  and  Jchn  Percy  soon  brought  the 
comiiiuader  of  the  "  Goc^  Fortune  "  to  his 
wits  again.  He  sat  up,  b»  iiss  as  a  corpse, 
and  brushed  his  pale  hair  back  from  his 
paler  brow.  The  governor  was  ready  for 
Iiim. 

"  Are  any  alive?  "  he  asked,  leaning  for- 
ward. 

**  A  few,"  replied  CoflSn,  wearily. 

'*  And  the  ship,  lad?  " 

*'  Battered  and  undermanned,  sir —  but 
sound  i'  the  hull." 

"  And  Donald  MacAllister?  " 

"He  is  alive,  and  aboard  the  ship,"  an- 
swered Coffin.  Then,  "  He  wanted  to  come 
along  with  me,"  he  added,  honestly,  "  but 
I  thought  it  better  to  leave  him  behind.    He 

288 


■lA 


iilamm;iilmi 


•I 


4'i 


I     "i  ,! 
'I    1 


m^K 


'■ill  \ 


i 
\ 


•■•If   1  M- 

.jjii 


f     , 


it. 


224  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


shouted   after  us.     I   suppose  he   is   very- 
angry." 

"  You  think  Donald's  a  fool?  "  queried  the 
governor. 

"  No,  sir.  I  do  not  think  that  of  anyone 
who  is  honest  and  courageous.  But  he  has 
not  proved  himself  of  much  use  as  a  sol- 
dier." 

John  Percy  looked  at  Elizabeth.  "  What 
of  this  MacAllister?  "  he  whispered. 

**  A  vain  young  man,"  she  murmured, 
flashing  a  shy  but  reassuring  glance  into  his 
anxious  eyes. 

Duwaney  was  for  putting  a  hundred  more 
questions  to  Harold  Coffin;  but  the  others 
would  not  allow  it.  Percy  stooped  above  the 
suiferer,  gathered  him  up  in  his  arms  as  if 
he  were  a  child  and  carried  him  to  the  berth 
which,  so  short  a  time  before,  he  had  put  at 
the  governor's  disposal.  The  governor  no- 
ticed this,  but  was  in  no  mood  to  resent  it. 
He  was  not  thinking  of  himself  or  his  own 
importance  now,  but  of  the  broken  planta- 
tion and  the  poor  lads  with  whom  he  had 
spent  the  long  winter  and  who  were  now 


A  Serious  Proposition 


225 


uerveless  clay.  Even  his  wounded  shoulder 
and  lame  foot  were  forgotten. 

Percy  laid  Harold  Coffin  in  his  own  narrow 
sleeping-place,  tenderly  examined,  bathed 
and  rebandaged  the  gash  on  his  head,  and 
discovered  and  attended  to  a  cut  in  his  left 
leg,  just  above  the  ankle.  Then  he  undressed 
him  and  covered  him  warmly  with  blankets. 

"  Do  you  want  some  broth  now,  lad!  Or 
some  more  brandy?  "  he  asked. 

"  Not  now.  I  want  to  sleep.  I  want  to 
sleep  for  a  year,"  replied  the  forlorn  hero, 
weakly. 

Master  Duwaney  and  Elizabeth  retired 
soon  after  this,  too,  for  they,  too,  were  sorely 
in  need  of  rest.  The  berths  to  which  Percy 
showed  them  were  in  no  way  inferior  to  that 
in  which  Coffin  lay  and,  like  it,  opened  off 
the  commander's  cabin.  One  belonged  to 
Master  Horace  Down  and  the  Other  to  Mas- 
ter de  Vemey.  Captain  Percy  wished  his 
guests  refreshing  slumber  and  went  on  deck. 

Percy  found  his  gentlemen,  Down  and  de 
Vemey,  and  one  Timothy  Barlow,  master  of 
the  "Jaguar,"  on  the  poop-deck,  r  «p  in 


t  •; 


•I 


»!     *<« 


J-     'ili 


!M^ 


2!26 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


discussion.  Upon  the  appearance  of  the 
commander  wliatever  subject  they  were  busy 
with  seemed  to  suffer  a  sudden  exhaustion. 
"Howls  Coffin?"  asked  Down.  "Heav- 
ens, but  he  looked  his  name  all  right  when 
he  came  aboard." 

"He  is  asleep,"  replied  Percy,  glancing 
around  at  sea  and  shore,  up  at  the  sails  and 
then  at  the  faces  of  his  three  officers. 

"  That  gentleman  must  have  ten  lives  in- 
side him,  sir,  like  a  cat,"  remarked  Barlow, 
"  for  if  ever  I  see  a  man  look  like  a  corp 
who  wasn't,  'twas  him  when  he  crawled  over 
the  side.  Blood  an'  powder-stain  from  head 
to  foot,  he  were,  as  sure  as  we  sail  salt  water. 
An'  he  left  his  footprints  on  the  deck  in  red 
blood." 

"Will    he   die,   d'ye    think?"   asked    de 
Verney. 

^  "  Not  he,  thank  God,"  returned  Percy. 
"  He  has  a  giant's  life  — not  the  lives  of 
nine  cats  -  in  that  miserable  little  body  of 
his.  Had  I  a  shipload  like  Harold  Coffin 
I'd  not  be  afraid  to  sail  up  th.  Thames  and 
let  fly  a  broadside  at  the  Tower  of  London. 


A  Serious  Proposition 


227 


I'd  put  Raleigh's  murderers  to  the  block  and 
an  English  king  on  the  throne." 

*'  If  this  young  man  is  such  a  wonder,  why 
don't  you  get  him  to  join  us?  "  asked  Master 
Down,  with  an  unpleasant  sneer  in  his  voice. 
He  was  of  a  jealous  disposition,  was  Master 
Horace.  Captain  Percy  paid  no  attention  to 
the  question.  In  fact,  he  did  not  hear  it. 
He  stood  with  his  elbows  on  the  taffrail  and 
his  eyes  fixed  unseeingly  on  tne  lively  bub- 
bling of  the  ship's  wake,  deep  in  thought. 
He  had  spoken  of  revenging  Raleigh's  death 
—  an  old  cry  with  him  —  and  even  now  he 
saw  his  life,  and  even  the  trend  of  his  ambi- 
tion, changing,  and  recklessness  and  bitter- 
ness slipping  away  from  him.  It  all  lay  with 
the  girl  in  the  cabin  beneath  his  feet.  Had 
he  read  love  in  her  eyes?  —  then,  if  that  were 
so,  the  voyaging  and  fighting  of  the  "  Ja- 
guar "  were  drawing  to  an  end,  as  far  as 
he  was  concerned.  He  was  aroused  by  de 
Vemey  touching  him  on  the  shoulder. 

**  I  suppose  we'll  be  done  with  these  wa- 
ters as  soon  as  we  return  the  colonists  to 
their  harbor?  "  he  said. 


•}i 


^. 


^Mk 


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iH' 


"J     !) 


^     !    ■  ,   '         ! 


i.  ft- 


1" 

III 

(i! 


228  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


'*  What  do  you  hold  against  these  waters? 
Why  are  you  in  such  haste  to  get  away 
from  themf  '-  asked  the  captain.  '*  We  have 
struck  some  shrewd  blows  hereabouts  to  keep 
the  memory  of  Raleigh's  valor  awake  in  the 
world." 

"But  we  cannot  live  by  engaging  war- 
ships,   chasing    pirates    with    rothing    but 
stolen  cod-fish  in  their  holds  and  taking  a 
few  pounds   of  provisions,   now   and   then, 
from   these  beggarly   traders,"   replied   dJ 
Verney.     «*  This  is  a  dangerous  game  we 
play  — and  so  the  stakes  should  be  wortli 
the  risk.     There  are  fat  rewards  awaiting 
our  valor  in  the  south,  John  —  our  old-time 
enemies,  heavy  witli  gold,  and  all  manner  of 
murdering  gentry  ripe  to  be  relieved  of  their 
ill-got  cargoes  anc'  strung  up  by  their  necks 
in  just  punishment  for  the  honest  blood  they 
have  spilled.    And  if  you  want  us  to  fight 
a  king's  ship  occasionally  for  glory  rather 
than  profit  and  to  keep  the  knowledge  of  our 
anger  alive,  we'll  find  more  of  them  among 
the  Caribbees  and  up  and  down  the  main 
than  in  these  fishy  waters." 


A  Serious  Proposition 


229 


John  Percy  looked  troubled  and  dis- 
pleased. "  Greed!  Greed!  "  he  exclaimed. 
"  I  do  believe  that  you  three  would  have  had 
me  accept  old  Duwaney  's  oflFer  of  a  thousand 
pounds  for  our  services  of  to-day." 

"  Did  he  offer  a  thousand  pounds?  "  asked 
Down. 

Percy  nodded.  "  One  half  of  the  sum  for 
which  the  fishermen  intended  to  hold  him  and 
the  women,"  he  remarked. 

'*  The  impudent  old  tallow-chandler,"  ex- 
claimed Master  Down,  indignantly. 

"  So  I  told  him,"  said  Percy. 

"And  rightly,  too,"  cried  de  Vemey. 
**  'Pon  my  soul,  I'd  have  pinked  him  for  it." 

Timothy  Barlow,  the  shipmaster,  smiled. 
**  An'  yet,  my  masters,  he  but  offered  fair 
wages  for  fair  service.  We  did  him  a  good 
turn,  an'  he  was  willin'  to  pay  th(  iptain 
for  it.  I  be  but  a  common  man—  plain, 
tarry-pawed  Jack  — but  to  me  it  looks  like 
as  honestly  earned  a  thousand  o*  canary 
birds  as  any  we've  touched  since  we  took 
to  free  voyagin'." 

"What!"   cried   Percy.      "Would   you 


^^Q  A  Captain  of  RalHgh's 


;;  \-) 


i. 


have  had  me  accept  payment  for  rescuing  a 
young  lady  from  distress?  Stop  me,  man, 
but  you  must  think  I've  fallen  devilish 
low!'» 

'*  Think  nought  o'   the  kind,   sir!"   ex- 
claimed Barlow.    "Low,  do  ye  say!    If  such 
was  in  my  mind,  mark  ye,  Tim  Barlow  would 
sail  with  ye  no  more.    But  I  hold,  sir,  that 
in  these  poor  times  an'  in  these  waters  where 
we  finds  more  glory  nor  pickin's,   'twas  a 
thousand  pound  cleanly  an'  easily  earned. 
But  I  may  be  wrong  — for  I  be  nought  but 
a  common  son  o'  a  sea-cook,  baptized  with 
bilge- water  an'  brung  up  at  a  rope's  end, 
an'^  I  make  no  pretence  to  all  the  foolish 
whims  o'  folks  gentle-born.     AJl  I  say  is, 
the  lads  for'ard  would  ha'  been  desperate 
glad  for  their  share  o'  them  yellow  canary 
birds,  for  they  be  sick  with  longin'  for  prize 
money." 

"So!  It  seems  to  me  they  have  not  done 
badly,"  said  Percy,  reflectively. 

Down  turned  to  the  shipmaster.  ''  Tim- 
othy," said  he,  "I'll  make  the  matter  of  the 
thousand  pounds  clear  to  you  in  half  a  min- 


A  Serious  Proposition 


231 


ute  —  as  clear  as  if  you  saw  it  with  the  cap- 
tain's own  eyes.  Here's  a  young  lady  —  the 
daughter  of  this  Duwaney!  We  three  had 
the  pleasure  of  meeting  her  aboard  the 
'  Good  Fortune,'  not  a  great  while  ago. 
Fine  looking?  Beautiful?  Spirited?  By  'r 
Lordy,  man,  she  struck  us  all  dumb  as  shell- 
fish with  a  glimpse  of  her  eyes!  You  have 
that,  Tim?  Well,  lad,  the  captain  here,  with 
some  help  from  us,  saves  her  (and,  inci- 
dentally, her  father  and  a  crowd  of  squeal- 
ing women)  from  a  crew  of  kidnappers. 
Then  the  old  dog  offers  him  money  for  it, 
—  for  saving  the  lady.  He  refuses.  What 
do  you  make  of  it?  " 

"  Why,  sir,  that  the  captain  done  right. 
I'd  do  the  same  myself  was  I  in  love  with 
such  a  fine  young  lady,"  responded  Barlow, 
heartily. 

Percy  flushed  and  turned  hotly  upon  them. 
"  Have  a  care!  Mind  your  tongues,  both  of 
you!  "  he  exclaimed.  Horace  Down  bit  his 
under  lip  in  vexation  at  being  thus  cavalierly 
addressed  before  the  shipmaster  and  the  lad 
at  the  tiller,  and  honest  Tim  Barlow  grinned. 


M/i 


I  !' 


i  \\ 


g32  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


Percy  began  to  pace  the  narrow  deck,  from 
rail  to  rail,  the  three  officers  and  the  helms- 
man watching  him  covertly.  Presently  he 
halted  in  front  of  Barlow. 

"  So  the  lads  are  beginning  to  fidget,  are 
they?  "  he  asked. 

"Aye,  sir,"  replied  Timothy.  *' They 
wants  to  haul  alongside  a  Spaniard  or  a 
Spanish-fed  pirate  again,  an'  no  mistake." 
•*  I  have  put  them  in  the  way  of  some  fat 
geese  to  pluck  before  we  began  this  under- 
taking," said  Percy. 

"  Yes,  sir,  that  ye  have  — an'  not  a  soul 
aboard,  gentle  or  simple,  denies  the  same," 
returned  the  master.    -  But  we  hold  that 'it 
be  a  risky  way  o'  livin',  even  under  your 
command,  sir,  an'  the  sooner  we  make  our 
piles  an'  win  safe  ashore  the  better.    Spain 
is  our  enemy;    every  raurderin'  robber  and 
pirate  on  the  high  seas  is  against  us,  for  the 
damage  we've  done  'em;  and  the  war-ships 
o'  our  own  Merry  England  be  on  our  heels 
as  if  we  was  the  devil  himself.     Aye,  and 
with  good  cause,  too!    Whoever  catches  us, 
we  hang  — whether  they  slip  the  noose  in 


^mm 


A  Serious  Proposition 


233 


the  name  o'  piracy,  sheer  dislike,  revenge  or 
treason.  So  we  feel,  sir,  that  we  have  no 
time  to  waste,  but  had  better  do  our  work 
quick  an'  then  vanish  from  the  face  o'  the 
waters." 

Percy  turned  to  the  lad  at  the  tiller. 
**  You  hear  what  Master  Barlow  says, 
Truxby.  Is  this  the  way  you  feel  in  the 
forecastle?  " 

**  Only  if  agreeable  to  yer  honor,  sir,** 
replied  Truxby.  *'  But  for  this  matter  o*  the 
war-ships,  yer  honor,  we'd  feel  no  uneasi- 
ness about  sailin'  the  sea  with  yer  honor  for 
the  rest  o'  our  lives,  sir.  But  as  things 
stand,  yer  honor,  an*  if  it  be  agreeable  to 
yer  lordship,  we  feel  as  how  we'd  like  to  have 
a  few  more  cracks  at  they  Spanish  treasure- 
ships  an'  then  go  quickly  ashore  an'  settle 
down  afore  we  be  hanged,  sir." 

"  And  T  don't  blame  you,  Truxby,"  re- 
plied the  captain.  "  That  we  run  a  shrewd 
risk  of  the  halter,  every  man  of  us,  I'll  not 
deny.  We  play  a  game  that  the  world  does 
not  understand ;  and  all  are  against  us,  high 
and  low.     But  they  cannot  hang  us  until 


1 


I*  ' 


if; 


,ii 


I  ■ 

i 


.   I 


1 

I   I 


234 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


they  catch  us,  and  though  many  have  tried, 
not  one  has  grappled  with  us  yet.  I'll  make 
my  plans  known  in  two  days." 

Percy  went  down  the  starboard  ladder  and 
entered  the  cabin.  He  moved  quietly  so  as 
not  to  disturb  the  sleepers  in  the  narrow 
berths  so  near  at  hand.  He  filled  a  long  clay 
pipe  with  Virginian  leaf,  sat  down  at  the 
table  and  gave  himself  to  thought.  That 
he  would  not  leave  these  waters  unless  Eliz- 
abeth Duwaney  asked  him  to,  or  left  them 
herself,  he  was  determined ;  but  as  to  every- 
thing else  his  plans  were  in  a  fog.  That  he 
was  gloriously  and  helplessly  in  love  Wi;li 
the  daughter  of  the  hot-tempered  governor 
of  Bristol's  Hope  he  knew,  and  e\  jry  faculty 
of  thought  and  feeling  within  him  accepted 
the  knowledge.  Also,  he  did  not  struggle 
against  this  wonderful  love,  though  he  saw 
at  a  glance  what  mighty  changes  it  was  to 
make  in  his  life,  whether  it  should  prove  suc- 
cessful or  hopeless.  But  he  could  not  find 
it  in  his  heart  to  believe  it  a  hopeless  passion. 
The  light  that  he  had  seen  in  the  depths  of 
her  eyes  —  surely  that  had  been  the  tender 


I 


A  Serious  Proposition 


23-5 


radiance  of  love !  If  ho,  he  would  make  every 
effort  to  win  her.  He  was  guilty  of  treason 
against  the  king,  'tis  true,  but  he  considered 
his  honor  unstained  in  this  matter,  for  this 
treason  was  honest  enmity  against  a  king 
wliom  he  despised  and  considered  as  no  bet- 
ter than  the  murderer  of  his  old  commander. 
He  had  been  born  a  gentleman;  and  he  had 
lived  as  one,  according  to  his  lights.  Though 
he  had  fought  in  many  battles  and  skir- 
mishes, afloat  and  ashore,  he  had  never  in- 
jured a  defenceless  or  wounded  man  or  ill- 
treated  a  prisoner.  Even  of  late,  after 
openly  proclaiming  himself  an  enemy  to  his 
sovereign  and  a  free  agent  upon  the  seas, 
he  had  confined  his  operations  to  such  craft 
as  were  a  menace  to  commerce  and  a  dis- 
grace to  civilization  and  an  occasional  fling, 
just  to  show  his  spirit,  at  an  English  war- 
ship. Indeed,  had  an  accurate  account  been 
kept  of  hi  ork  as  an  erring  captain,  it 
would  have  shown  plainly  enough  that  for 
every  honest  or  harmless  person  incoi.^- 
moded  by  him  the  fangs  had  been  drawn 
from  3  dozen  murderers  and  ravishers.    So 


v.; 


\i 


i"''m 


tU 


Is;, 

114- 


Jj 


iRl 


236  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


Captain  John  Percy  looked  back  ovor  hit 
dflring  career  and  decided  that  he  was  uo 
moro  miwurthy  of  the  love  of  a  goo  i  and 
beautifiu  voraan  than  most  men.  This,  lip 
kne\\ ,  was  i»  )i  a  high  standard  by  which  t<. 
raejsjie  his  moral  worth  — the  nworthi- 
nes.s  o  '  oil  -  men  ^  but,  as  it  fell  i  i  with  his 
desire  he  a^eci^ted  it  gladly  and  ^eally  lelt 
quite  a  glow  i,f  >  irtuf. 

He  -was  still  (»o<  upied  with  thoughts  set 
astir  by  his  love  chen  Down  md  .ie  Verney 
entered  the  cabin  and  joined  him  at  the 
table. 

"  What's  in  the  wind?  "  inquired  Down, 
guardedly.  *'  Why  d^  you  ^ang  fire  on  this 
matter  of  running  south?  " 

**  One  can  see  with  half  an  eye,  that  you 
do  not  relish  the  dea  of  the  islands  -  an,! 
yet  there  Is  where  prizes  are  big  and  r  ks 
small,*'  said  de  Verney. 

John  Percy  looked  from  one  to  the  ner 
with  a  somewhat  discomfited  expre  ion. 
He  leaned  close  to  them.  **  It's  — it's  he 
girl,"  he  whispered. 

Dov.-n  sighed  draraati'  ally.     "  I  suppof^ }, 


: 


«S7 


A  Serious  Proposition 

John,  ou've  let  her  melt  your  maDiy  heart,'* 
sai'^  tio. 

John  iio<i'^ed. 

*•  -^he  haf  ml  ted  mine,  tOO  "  b  tid  ^e  Ver- 
^eyj  -nit  Ms-n.  h&i^  hu*  got  to  do  with  our 
outbora  voya  "^t  "' 

**  IT)     ot  iw.        rom  her  unles       'e 

s  ids  mt  awu  re  '  Pc  y,  quietly.  I 
Cufi't  run  the      -  ja'm       er.     And    i  I 

/'/  t  h  her  v.uich  G>  grant  —  I'm 
'■'  '  wi  !  akui^  toll  of  Sp;  aiards  and  pi- 
rai  6,        nd  I'm  done  with  revengt  1  " 


4  =. 


i! 


:| 


ri  ' 


,   I  '* 


•||- 


I; 


> 


'I  I 


«  I  1  :  ;  f  -'^  t 
;■  •  ^ 

H|:i 


CHAPTER   XVn 

THE  RUINED  COLONT 

Captain  Percy's  disclosure  of  his  inten- 
tions and  the  state  of  his  heart  astonished 
his  friends  — nay,  more  than  that,  it  filled 
them  with  dismay.  They  glared  at  him,  their 
eyes  wide  with  amazement  and  darkling  with 
displeasure. 

'*  Then  what  the  devil  are  you  going  to 
do?  And  what  the  devil  are  we  to  dot  " 
asked  Horace  Down. 

**  Keep  your  temper,  Horace,  I  am  a  free 
man.  You  are  not  my  guardian,"  returned 
Percy. 

"Yes,  you  are  a  free  man,  John  — but 
with  a  very  handsome  price  on  your  head," 
said  de  Vemey.  ♦'  You'll  not  feel  so  free 
and  frisky  if  some  diligent  officer  of  the  king 
gets  his  fingers  on  you." 

**  You  say  truly  that  I'm  not  your  guard- 
ian—and I  thank  my  stars  for  that  I  — but 

238 


h     . 


The  Ruined  Colony 


239 


you  must  allow  me  to  take  some  interest  in 
your  affairs,"  said  Master  Down.  '*  We've 
been  in  a  i  out  of  some  devilish  tight  places 
together,  John." 

"  You  arc  right,  lad,  and  I'm  not  forget- 
ting our  friendship,"  replied  the  com- 
mander. **  My  own  brothers  are  no  dearer 
to  me  than  you  two,  for  our  blood  has  run 
together  in  more  than  one  rare  engagement 
againv«l;  odds.  But  for  all  that  I  cannot  tell 
you  what  I  do  not  surely  know  myself !  'Pon 
my  soul,  you  might  be  more  considerate! 
Can 't  you  give  me  a  few  days '  grace  in  which 
to  discover  my  own  position?  It  may  be  that 
the  lady  cares  nothing  for  me;  or  again,  she 
may  care,  but  not  want  to  —  to  have  things 
move  too  swiftly.  Then  who  is  to  answer 
for  old  Duw.'  ley's  attitude  towards  me?  By 
what  I've  seen  and  heard  of  the  old  fellow, 
T  believe  he'd  rather  have  his  daughter  marry 
a  Turk  than  a  poor,  adventurous  gentleman 
who  has  had  the  audacity  to  openly  proclaim 
his  enmity  against  James,  the  Lord's 
anointed.  I  make  a  shrewd  guess,  comrades, 
that  he  considers  us  not  a  whit  better  than 


i    <:' 


III 


il 


Mi 


;1 

il 

if  i 


i   II 


240  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


a  pack  of  murdering  pirates.  So  how  can 
I  name  you  the  course  I  intend  to  sail  in  the 
future  in  the  wink  of  an  eye?  If  you  love 
me,  comrades,  give  me  a  few  days  in  which 
to  work  it  out." 

"  But  let  us  suppose  that  both  the  lady 
and  old  Duwaney  are  satisfied  with  your  suit. 
Even  then,  John,  how  are  you  going  to  sup- 
port a  wife  and  retire  from  your  present 
honorable  but  dangerous  occupation  at  one 
and  the  same  time?  "  asked  Down. 

''  I  have  never  been  a  spendthrift,"  re- 
plied Percy,  '*  and  though  England  and  the 
family  possessions  are  lost  to  me,  I  own  a 
snug  little  place  in  the  most  beautiful  and 
retired  of  all  the  islands  of  the  Caribbean 
Sea,  and  a  house  and  some  firm  friends  in 
the  New  England  Colonies.  So,  you  see,  my 
shares  in  this  ship  and  in  the  treasure  in 
the  lazaret  are  not  the  whole  of  my  worldly 
possessions." 

*•  That  is  all  very  well  — for  you,"  said 
de  Verney.  "  But  it  does  not  help  us.  If 
you  give  up  command  of  this  ship,  what's 
to  be  done?    Though  I  blush  to  say  it,  the 


The  Ruined  Colony 


241 


lads  forward  do  not  put  much  faith  in  Hor- 
ace and  me  —  they  don't  think  us  naval  or 
military  geniuses.  So  if  you  desert  your 
charge,  who  is  to  command  the  ship  for  long 
enough  to  give  us  a  chance  to  empty  the 
holds  of  a  few  more  iniquitous  traffickers  in 
blood  and  goldf  " 

"By  Heaven!"  exclaimed  Percy,  impa- 
tiently, "  do  yoi  think  I  can  read  the  future? 
Come,  be  reasonable!  Give  me  two  da>a  In 
which  to  discover  my  own  position  and  then 
I'll  do  what  I  can  toward  helping  you  with 
your  plans.  Two  days!  Can't  you  give  me 
two  days?  " 

**  Certainly,  certainly,"  replied  de  Ver- 
ney,  daunted  by  the  flash  in  the  other's 
eyes. 

**  You  ask  no  more  than  is  reasonable, 
John,"  said  Master  Down.  •'  So  I  promise 
that  you'll  not  be  badgered  again  by  these 
questions  until  this  time  day  after  to-mor- 


row. 


11 


The  wind  held,  and  in  time  the  "  Jaguar  " 
entered  the  little  harbor  of  Bristol's  Hope 
and  let  go  her  anchor.    The  stars  were  shi- 


fl 


k 
III 


|i 

11 
••  i 

".  ■ 
f  ■  • 

I;  i 
ih 

% 

':-h 


n 


M 

1 

^i 

1 

i 

d 

lil 

242 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


nmg,  the  -  Good   Fortune  "   showed  light 
aloft  and  alow,  but  ashore,  where  the  plan- 
tation  had  so  lately  stood,  all  was  darkness. 
Harold  Coffin,  clothed  sumptuously  from  the 
comlmed  wardrobes  of  Percy,  Down  and  de 
Verney,  and  with  his  head  and  left  leg  still 
m  bandages  and  the  pallor  of  death  still  on 
his  cheeks,  went  directly  aboard  the  -  Good 
Fortune  "  with  his  four  men.     Word  that 
the   governor   and   his   daughter,    and   the 
women  of  the  colony,  were  safe  went  from 
end  to  end  of  the  battered  ship  as  quick  as 
light;  and  all  of  the  ship's  depleted  company 
and  such  of  the  survivors  of  the  settlement 
as  could  stir  from  their  berths  collected  in 
the  waist  and  cheered  tlie  "  Jaguar  -    The 
men  of  the  other  ship,  and  presently  some 
of  the  women,   cried  back  to  them      The 
v^omen  began  to  call  the  names  of  their  own 
men -and  sometimes  the  cry  was  answered 
from  the  -  Good  Fortune;  -  but  more  often 
It  was  followed  by  a  pitiful  silence.    So  the 
ist  of  the  casualties  was  soon  known  aboard 
the      Jaguar;  "  for  the  voices  of  the  sur- 
vivors were  heard,  and  the  names  of  the 


The  Ruined  Colony 


243 


wounded  men  were  shouted  across  the  black 
water  by  their  comrades  —  and  silence  spoke 
the  names  of  the  dead. 

Harold  Coffin  and  Benjamin  Spike  stood 
on  the  poop-deck,  gazing  across  at  the  shad- 
owy bulk  of  the  other  ship,  each  occupied 
with  his  own  gloomy  reflections.  Both  were 
thinking  of  the  dead  sailors  and  colonists, 
of  the  widowed  women,  of  the  battered  ship 
and  wrecked  colony.  In  the  sight  of  others' 
sufferings  Coffin  had  dismissed  all  thought 
of  his  own  trouble  from  his  mind  —  yet  he 
knew  that  the  woman  he  loved  was  lost  to 
him  as  inexorably  as  if  he  lay  dead,  along 
with  so  many  of  his  brave  lads,  under 
the  harbor  water  or  among  the  broken 
houses. 

Old  Spike  heaved  a  groan.  **  I  could  weep 
at  thought  of  it,"  said  he  — "  at  thought  o' 
all  they  stout  lads  butchered  for  nothin'. 
We  suffered  cruel,  'tis  true ;  but  we  won  the 
fight  an'  saved  the  ship.  But  the  poor  lads 
ashore  I  —  Lord,  I'd  shoot  myself  for  a 
worthless  hound  if  I  was  that  paunchy  gov- 
ernor! " 


iAmi 


i 


F        I'M' 

ti  1 

I;; 


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<» 


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! 


h 


1  t' 


344 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


"  And  yet  it  is  not  fair  to  blame  him.  He 
has  had  no  military  training,"  said  Cof- 
fin. 

"Then  what  of  MacAlIister?  He  pre- 
tends to  be  a  soldier,"  retorted  Spike. 

"  He  is  brave  enough,  but  has  no  knack  of 
leadership,  I  take  it,  in  either  attack  or  de- 
fence," answered  Coffin.  -  I  am  sorry  for 
him,  Benjamin,  for  witli  more  experience  and 
a  cooler  head  he'd  make  a  good  commander 
The  lad  has  the  right  spirit  and  the  right 
blood  in  him,  somewhere  under  the  untarred 
pride  and  unpricked  conceit." 

"Unpricked?     Nay,  for  the  wind  is  not 
o'  his  vanity  now,"  said  Spike. 
'*  Where  is  he?  "  asked  Coffin. 
"  He  went  ashore,  fair  frothing  at  the 
mouth,  soon  after  ye  left,"  replied  the  ship- 
master.   '«  He  was  swearing,  he'll  have  your 
blood  for  not  taking  him  along  with  ye  " 
He  paused  and  laid  a  hand  on  Coffin's  shoul- 
der.    "  Mark  my  words,  master,  this  wild 
Highland  gentleman  be  smitten  desperately 
with  love  for  the  youn^  Indy-nn'  so  that 
makes  him  none  the  fonder  o'  ye." 


The  Ruined  Colony 


245 


"  How  so?  "  asked  Harold.  **  He  has 
nought  to  fear  from  me,  Benjamin." 

"An'  why  not,  comrade?  "  rp+^-^ied 
Spike. 

The  other  laughed  grimly.  **  Wn\  not, 
d'ye  ask!"  he  exclaimed.  "Look  at  me, 
Benjamin.  The  light  is  bad,  but  'twill  serve. 
A  veritable  heart-breaker,  am  I  not?  Mark 
my  fine  features,  glowing  cheeks  and  flashing 
eyes !  Mark  my  commanding  figure !  Lord, 
man,  I'm  a  thing  to  excite  disgust  — or 
maybe  pity  —  in  the  heart  of  a  dairy  maid ! 
A  corpse  would  make  as  effective  a  lover." 

Master  Spike  was  silent  for  a  little  while. 
At  last  he  said,  haltingly,  "  But  ye  be  worth 
the  lot  o'  us  in  a  skirmish  or  a  battle.  Big 
as  I  be  I'd  never  match  ye  in  a  fight.  Mao- 
Allister,  Percy,  Duwaney  — ye'd  eat  them 
all.  There  be  a  devil  in  ye,  when  blades 
flash,  that  no  bulk  o'  muscle  or  length  o* 
arm  can  withstand.'* 

"  Though  you  exaggerate,  my  friend, 
there  is  a  grain  of  truth  in  what  you  say," 
replied  Harold,  with  quiet  bitterness  in  his 
voice.      "I    am    a    remarkable    fighting- 


I 


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I  .,11      ; 


fe 


I 


Ji 


.:t.iJ 


^ A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


machine,  'tis  true.  And  death  overlooks 
me  — strikes  too  high  for  my  ugly  head  — 
and  the  tall  men  go  down.  But  do  the  hearts 
of  maids  warm  and  flutter  to  fighting- 
machines?  Then  shall  they  set  their  desires 
on  culverins  and  falconets  —  which  are 
shapely  engines  of  their  kind  — rather  than 


on  me. 

No  one  went  ashore  from  either  of  the 
ships  during  the  night;  but,  a  few  hours  be- 
fore dawn,  Donald  MacAllister  returned  to 
the  -  Good  Fortune."    The  poor  fellow  was 
almost  mad  with  grief,  anger  and  wounded 
pride.     All  day  he  had  toiled  desperately 
about    the    ruined    plantation,    striving    to 
deaden    the    memories    of   his    humiliating 
failure.    He  had  dug  graves  in  the  woods  by 
the  river  — grave  after  grave,  toiling  with 
pick  and  spade  in  the  tough  soil  until  his 
hands  grew  raw  and  his  head  light  as  smoke 
-  and  carried  *he  dead  men  in  his  arms,  one 
by  one,  and  buried  them  deep.    It  had  proved 
a   bitter   and   heartrending   tap     —for   he 
could  not  blind  himself  to  the  fa,     that,  but 
for  his  own  inefficiency,  many  of  these  brave 


I  ■  1 


The  Ruined  Colony 


247 


fellows   would   still   be   alive.     So  he   had 
worked   and    suffered    all    day,   without    a 
thought  of  food  or  drink.    Now,  in  the  chill 
and  darkness  before  dawn,  he  paced  the  mid- 
ships  deck   of   the   "Good    Fortune,"   ex- 
hausted but  restless,  dreading  the  return  of 
daylight.    He  had  seen  the  "  Jaguar  "  come 
in  and  heard  of  the  rescue  of  the  governor 
and  the  women;   but  he  was  in  no  mood  to 
feel  thankful  for  anything.    An  incompetent 
bungler,  he  had  disgraced  his  name!    What 
of  his  pride  now,  when  even  the  sailors  could 
not  hide  their  contempt  for  him  as  a  weak- 
ling?   Well  he  knew  —  for  it  needed  no  tell- 
ing! —  what  Coffin  and  Spike  thought  of  him. 
And  Elizabeth?  What  would  she  make  of  his 
ignominious  defeat  — and  of  Harold  Coffin's 
victory  in  the  "  Good  Fortune,"  against  tre- 
mendous odds?    Even  as  he  had  earned  dis- 
grace so  had  Coffin  won  glory.    Lord,  it  was 
a  bitter  draught  for  his  Highland  spirit! 
He  thought  of  how  Coffin  had  gone  after  the 
lugger  without  him,  and  had  refused  to  turn 
back  for  him,  and  in  the  inflamed  state  of  his 
mind  this  seemed  worse  than  a  slap  across 


248  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 

the  face.  His  gorge  rose  at  that  memory, 
almost  choking  him;  and  he  swore  he  would 
settle  his  score  with  Harold  Coffin  before  the 
passing  of  another  day. 


' 


fU 


M 


% 


Ml 


Dawn  lifted  in  the  east  and  flooded  into 
the  harbor  from  the  seaward  vastness.    Mac- 
Allister  looked  around  at  the  gray  desola- 
tion, felt  a  sudden  weight  of  weariness  op- 
press both  body  and  spirit,  stumbled  into  the 
cabin  and  sank  to  sleep  on  one  of  the  lockers. 
Aboard  the  "  Jagi.ar  "  the  governor  was 
early  astir,  and  a  fearful  curiosity  drew  him 
out  to  gaze  upon  the  site  of  his  beloved  plan- 
tation.    He   limped    across    the   deck    and 
leaned  upon  the  rail,  and  for  a  full  minute 
stared  in  silence  at  the  charred  timbers  and 
broken  roofs.     At  last  a  mournful  cry  es- 
caped his  purple  lips,  harsh  and  dismally 
prolonged.     He   swayed   on   unsteady  legs, 
clutched  the  rail  and  glared.     Then  curses 
flew  from  him,  childish  in  their  futility  but 
terrible.    Men  ran  to  him;  but  he  met  them 
with  oaths  and  strokes  of  his  fists.     They 
closed  with  him,  fearing  that  he  might  do 


■  I 


The  Ruined  Colony 


249 


himself  an  injury,  and  bore  him  back  to  the 
cabin.  They  laid  him  on  the  floor,  and  at 
that  moment  Percy  followed  them  in  from 
the  deck  —  he  had  slept  in  the  forecastle  — 
and  Elizabeth  appeared  from  her  berth, 
wrapped  in  a  great  cloak,  her  feet  bare  and 
her  hair  streaming  upon  her  shoulders.  The 
men  drew  back.  Percy,  reaching  the  gov- 
ernor first,  knelt  beside  him  and  raised  his 
head  on  his  arm.  Elizabeth  knelt  on  the 
other  side  and  caught  her  father's  hands. 

Duwaney's  great  face  was  purple.  He 
breathed  thickly,  his  shaven  lips  making  in- 
ward and  puffing  outward  noisily.  His  eyes 
were  closed  at  first ;  but  presently  he  opened 
them,  gazed  at  the  girl  and  then  at  Percy. 
**  Ood  forgive  me  my  sins!  "  he  murmured. 
He  rolled  his  head  from  side  to  side  on  the 
commander's  ami.  **  My  devilish  temper  — 
it  is  my  undoing,"  he  whispered.  He  lay 
quiet  for  .-  moment,  staring  up  at  his  daugh- 
ter. "  Go  home,"  he  gasped,  *'  an*  marry 
—  Sir  Stephen.  Tt  is  already  planii'd.  My 
last  will —  under  the  hearth -stone." 
He  flung  himself  upward  into  a  sitting 


•  J 


i:|. 


I:' 


rtij 


f: 


1^ 


^1 


^0  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


position,  swayed  so  for  an  instant,  and 
tben  fell  heavily  back  into  John  Percy's 
arms.  Au.i  that  was  the  last  of  Master 
Thomas  Duwauey  in  this  world ! 

The  shock  of  her  father's  death,  striking 
upon  nerves  already  overstrained  by  fati^e 
and  HufferiuK,  pn^strated  Elizabeth.     Percy 
carried  her  ba.k  to  her  berth,  spoke  a  few 
halting  words  of  sympathy -but  by  the  last 
speech  of  the  governor  his  tongue  was  fet- 
tered -  then  went  forward  and  sent  one  of 
the  women  to  wait  on  her.    Duwaney's  body 
was  carried  to  the  poop-deck,  laid  out  on  an 
improvised  bier  and  covered  with  a  flag,  and 
a  ^'iiard  of  two  armed  marines  was  set  over 
it.    Then  Percy  crossed  to  the  '♦  Good  For- 
tune "  with  the  startling  news,  which  was 
received  with  astonishment  and   regret  by 
Toffin  and  Spike -but  the  regret  was  not 
for  the  death  of  old  Duwaney  so  much  as  for 
Elizabeth's    grief.      Neither   of   them    had 
loved  the  governor  or  greatly  respected  him. 
The  spirit  of  many  a  better  man  liad  been 
sped  within  the  last  two  days.     While  the 
three   spoke   together,   Donald   MacAllister 


The  Ruined  Colony 


251 


left  liis  couch  and  appeared  on  deck  .Jiahev- 
elled,  pallid  and  red-eye«l.  Harold  Colliu, 
wiio  had  seen  him  wliile  nsleep  but  had  not 
spoken  to  hirn  since  returning  from  tlie  pur- 
suit of  the  lugger,  sai<l,  "  Master  Duwaney 
is  d'jaJ!  He  passed  away  within  the  lialf- 
hour." 

MacA  .cr  halted,  aghast.  "  Dead!  "  he 
exclaimed.  "  The  governor  dead!  By  the 
eternal,  how  is  this?  " 

Percy  explained  the  thing  to  hhn  minutely. 
The  Scot  listened  with  evident  impatience 
and  suspicion. 

the  bod;-?"  he  demanded, 
^d  c  ..i  speaking.  *  Are 
H  -pon  it?  —  no  treasonous 
r.  sf«^  it,  by  Heaven!  '* 
The  commanuer  of  the  **  Jaruar  "  fell 
hack  a  pace  as  if  he  had  been  struck  in  the 
face.  Coffin  ^^lared  angrily  ai  the  speaker 
and  even  Spike  .< >.ked  astonished  and  un- 
comfortable. After  a  moment  of  tense  si- 
lence, John  Percy  found  his  voice.  "  You 
are  young,  Master  Mr-  Mlister,  and  sorely 
overwrought,"  he  said,  "    ad  so  I  let  your 


"  Where   is 
wlion   Pei  :*     1 
there   no   r  ic 
wounds?    I     i 


mmmm 


i*M 


^^  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


•♦  i 


words  pass.    But  be  careful,  I  beg  of  you. 
Guard  your  tongue,  Master  MacAllister. " 

The  Scot  flushed  darkly.  *♦  I  spoke  with- 
out  any  intention  of  insulting  you,"  he  said. 
He  pressed  his  hand  to  his  forehead.  "  So 
Duwaney  died  —  in  a  fit,"  he  muttered.  *•  T 
was  fond  of  that  old  man."  He  looked  at 
Percy.  "  What  of  the  young  lady?  A3  her 
father's  lieutenant,  I  consider  myself  her 
guardian  until  such  time  as  she  can  be  re- 
turned to  her  home." 

"  The  young  lady  is  not  in  good  health," 
replied  Percy. 

"  As  to  the  young  lady's  guardianship,  I 
believe  she  is  of  an  age  to  select  her  own 
protector  and  adviser,"  remarked  Coffin, 
drily. 

MacAllister  turned  on  him  and  looked  him 
up  and  down  with  a  scrutiny  more  galling 
and  insolent  than  spoken  jeers.  Harold  Cof- 
fin stood  quiet  under  it  for  a  few  seconds; 
then,  unable  to  bear  it  any  longer  in  silence, 
he  said,  "  Have  a  care,  MacAllister.  Don't 
brew  any  more  trouble,  T  pray  you,  for  we 
are  already  burdened  with  it." 


The  Ruined  Colony 


253 


"  Of  what  am  I  to  have  a  care?  "  asked 
the  other. 

Coffin  sighed,  turned  on  his  heel  and 
walked  away.  Spike  touched  MacAllister's 
arm.  "  Don't  bait  that  poor  lad,  for  God's 
rcercy's  sake,"  he  whispered.  "  We  be  too 
few,  Master,  an'  too  sore  already,  to  shape 
a  course  for  more  bloodshed." 


"i 


-I 
*  • 


pi 


HI 


CHAPTER  XVm 

MASTER  DUWANEY'S   WILL   IS   FOUND 

•'  Yes,  this  little  matter  can  wait,"  said 
Donald  MacAlIiHter.  -  Now  1  must  think  of 
my  friends  and  ignore  my  enemies." 
^^  ''  Eneniies!  "  exclaimed  Spike  in  disgust. 
Let  me  tell  ye,  sir,  man  to  man,  ye  talk 
like  a  witless  child." 

"  You  are  all  against  me,"  said  MacAllis- 
ter-'«aye,  and  yoM  were  all  against  the 
s:osGrnor,  down  in  your  hearts.  Rut  he  was 
»n  honest  man  and  stood  to  his  king -and 
no  damn  professional  cut-throat  " 

Master  Spike  turned  away  from  the  young 
man,  fearing  that  he  might  forget  his  own 
plea  for  pence  if  he  remained  to  hear  anv 
'"ore.  But  at  this  naming  of  rFaroId  Coffin 
as  a  professional  cut-throat  his  thick  hlood 
boded  and  his  great  phest  heaved. 

MacAllister  went  aboard  the  "Jaguar," 

2M 


Master  Duwaney's  Will  Is  Found 


felt  a  twinge  or  two  of  real  sorrow  at  sight 
of  tlie  dead  governor,  and  then  sent  word  to 
Elizabeth,  by  the  woman  wlio  waited  upon 
her,  that  it  was  of  grave  importance  that  he 
should  see  her  for  a  few  moments.  The  girl 
did  not  keep  him  waiting,  but  entered  the 
cabin,  from  her  narri)w  berth,  the  instant 
she  heard  his  name.  Her  face  was  deadly 
pale  and  her  eyelids  red  and  swollen  with 
weeping.  In  silence,  calmly  and  without  any 
lightening  of  expression,  she  extended  her 
hand  to  the  Scot.  He  pressed  his  lips  to  it 
passionately;  but  she  seemed  utterly  una- 
ware of  the  warmth  of  his  ad<lress. 

"  I  have  come  to  ^ell  you  how  deeply  I 
grieve  for  you,"  he  said,  "  and  that  —  now 
—  T  pray  you  to  consider  mo  as  your  |>ro 
lector  until  T  return  you  safely  to  your  home. 
He  would  have  it  so,  I  think,  foi  he  trusted 
me.    We  were  friends  —  lie  and  T." 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  girl,  vaguelv.  "  You 
are  kind  -  and  he  was  fond  of  you.  T  am 
in  the  hands  of  my  friends.  You  are  all 
kinder  than  I  deserve." 

This    reply    distnrljed    MacAllister.     His 


i 


.?:l 


ii. 


h 


1^1 


■   ;i 

1.  i 

I  ■:: 

11^  i 

i 

2M 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


jealous  Dature  took  alarm.  *'  But  it  seems 
to  me,"  lie  said,  "  that,  as  your  honored 
father's  assistant  -  that  I  have  first  c;.um 
to  — to  devote  myself  to  your  service.  He 
would  have  it  so,  I  am  sure." 

She  looked  at  him,  for  the  first  time,  and 
there  was  a  gleam  of  wonder  in  her  eyes. 
"  But  — but  I  have  so  many  friends,"  she 
protested,  mildly.  "  You,  and  Master  Coffin, 
and  Master  Spike  and  Captain  Percy.  All 
are  willing  to  befriend  and  protect  me,  I 
know.  I  thank  Ood  that  I  find  myself  in  the 
care  of  so  many  brave  gentlemen." 

"Master  CofTin,"  said  MacAllister,  with 
no  inflection  in  his  voice  to  give  meaning  to 
the  words. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  replied  Elizabeth,  quickly. 
**  He  has  proved  himself  a  —  a  noble  friend. 
He  is  dear  as  a  brother  to  me." 

The  young  man  smiled  grimly.  ♦♦  But  re- 
member that  I,  too,  am  eager  and  ready  to 
serve  you,"  he  said. 

The  colonists  were  divided  between  the 
two  ships,  and  nothing  was  done  that  day 
toward  re-establishing  (garters  ashore.    Im- 


Master  Duvvaney's  Will  Is  Found   257 

mediately  after  his  interview  with  Elizabeth, 
MacAilister  sent  two  men  around  to  Guy's 
Colony  to  obtain  help  and  advice  from  Cap- 
tain Mason,  the  governor  of  the  older  plan- 
tation. Bristol's  Hope  was  but  an  off-shoot 
of  Guy's  —  a  fact  which  both  Duwaney  and 
his  lieutenant  had  ignored  in  the  past  but 
which  came  to  MacAilister 's  mind  now  with 
a  sense  of  relief.  Mistrusting  the  loyalty  of 
Coffin,  and  knowing  that  Percy  was  an  oat- 
law,  he  suddenly  felt  the  need  of  both  moral 
and  material  support  from  such  a  man  as 
Captain  Mason. 

Percy  told  MacAilister  the  governor's  last 
words,  feeling  it  his  duty  to  do  so  as  the 
Scot  was  now  in  command  of  the  colony. 
Poor  MacAilister  could  not  conceal  the  ef- 
fects of  the  shock. 

**  Sir  Stephen,"  he  whispered,  hoarsely. 
**  Wlio  the  devil  is  he?  " 

**  I  don't  know.  'Tis  the  first  I  ever  heard 
of  him,"  replied  Percy,  eying  the  other  with 
mingled  pity  and  scorn.  *•  But  this  is  not 
the  point,"  he  continued.  "  Duwaney  spoke 
of  his  will  being  under  the  hearth.     That 


if  li" 


li- 


-f  i 


i ;' 


!ii: 


2oS 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


would  be  under  the  hearth  of  his  own  house 
1  take  it."  ' 

"  Ves,"  replied  MacAllister.    "  We  must 
go  ashore  and  look  for  it." 

The  governor's  house  had  been  ransacked 
and  partially  demolished.     The  main  room 
was  filled  with  timbers  from  the  roof  and 
walls.     Through  this  wreckage  Percy,  Mac- 
Allister and  two  of  the  men  from  the  -  Ja- 
guar "  worked  their  way.     It  was  a  diffi- 
cult undertaking,  and  the  sun  was  behind  the 
western  hills  by  the  time  they  reached  the 
great  hearth.    The  stone  was  a  mighty  slab 
of  granite  fully  six  feet  long  and  deeply  im- 
bedded in  clay.    A  candle  was  lighted;    and 
bv  that  feeble  illumination,  hemmed  in  by 
great,  criss-crossed  timbers  and  fragments 
of  broken  roofing,  they  set  to  work  on  the 
hearth-stone  with  a  pick  and  two  crowbars 
A  corner  of  the  slab  was  soon  raised  from 
|ts  be,l  and  blocked  up.     Then  MacAllister 
lay  flat  and  thrust  his  arm  into  the  cavity 
beneath  the  stone.    For  some  time  he  fum'- 
bled  about  in  a  breathless  silence.     Percy 
bent  above  him  with  the  candle.    The  sailors 


Master  Duwaney's  Will  Is  Found   259 


leaned  on  their  crowbars,  eager  and  puzzled. 
They  had  got  the  idea  into  their  simple 
minds  that  the  gentlemen  were  after  the 
dead  governor's  money  — and  this  was  not 
what  they  had  expected  from  their  com- 
mander. 

"  Here  is  something,"  said  MaoAllis- 
ter,  at  last.  He  thrust  in  the  other  hand 
and  pulled  hard.  "  A  box,"  he  grunted. 
"But  it  is  stuck  fast.  Ah!  here  it 
comes." 

Then  they  discovered  that  the  box  was 
too  large  to  pass  through  the  opening,  and 
so  they  had  to  set  to  work  again  and  block 
the  edge  of  the  stone  six  inches  aigher. 
When  this  was  done,  and  while  the  Scot  was 
engaged  in  pulling  the  box  from  its  hiding- 
place,  the  older  of  the  two  sailors  turned  to 
Captain  Percy. 

'*  Axin'  yer  pardon,  sir,"  said  he,  nerv^- 
ously,  "  but  be  ye  arter  the  old  man's  — the 
the  old  man's  money?  " 

"  You  know  better  than  that,  lad,"  re- 
plied Percy,  quietly. 

Aye,  sir,  we  knowed  better;  but  we  was 


({ 


I 


1} 


i; 


ri 


I      t 


n 


If  ' 


^Ife 


» 


: 

1.- 

♦    .       !  ' 

m 

fi   i ' 

[mii 

200 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh'j 


wooderin-     We  was  th^kia'  o'  the  youag 
lady,  sir,"  replied  the  man. 

"  We  are  all  thinking  of  her,  lad.    It  is 

kliy.' "' '"  """"^  """•"  ^-^  P"-=y. 

By  this  time,  MacAllisler  had  the  box  out 
of  the  hole  It  proved  to  be  an  important 
lookmg  casket,  abont  sLx  inches  in  depth, 
half  that  again  in  width  and  nearly  two  feet 
long  It  was  of  iron,  heavily  banded,  and 
weighed  amazingly  for  its  size. 

"A.  devilish  heavy  will,"  remarked  Mac- 
Alhster  straightening  his  long  back  and 
wpmg  the  sweat  from  his  brow  with  a  grimy 

Percy  stared  at  the  thing  for  a  few  sec- 
onds i„  pensive  silence.    No  doubt  it  con- 
tamed  gold  as  well  as  the  valuable  docu- 
ment; and  this  thonght  recalled  to  his  inind 
the  offer  the  old  man  had  m„de  bim  of  a 
thousand  pounds  and  the  rage  with  which 
he  hod  met  the  offer.    He  was  sorry,  now, 
that  he  had  let  his  anger  flare  at  the  old 
man;    and   he  wondered   uncomfortably  if 
that  exhibition  of  temper  had  injured  him 


Master  Duwaney's  Will  Is  Found   261 


in  the  girFs  eyes.  But  wliat  did  it  matter 
now,  since  he  had  heard  of  this  Sir  Stephen? 
**  Shall  we  take  it  aboard  tiie  '  Jaguar  ' 
or  the  *  Good  Fortune,'  for  the  night?  " 
asked  MacAUister.  lie  did  not  take  a  high 
hand  with  Percy,  for  though  he  knew  him 
to  be  an  outlaw  he  could  not  forget  tliat  he 
had  been  one  of  Kak-igh's  most  trusted  of- 
ficers. And  there  were  other  things  about 
this  captain  that  called  for  courteous  treat- 
ment —  his  beariTig  and  appearance  and  his 
name.  Also,  the  Scot  did  not  think  that  he 
had  any  personal  grievance  against  this 
man  as  he  felt  sure  that  he  had  against  Har- 
old Coffin.  So  his  words  had  contained  a 
note  of  reserved  friendliness. 

*•  Aboard  the  *  Good  Fortune,'  by  all 
means ;  and  I  suppose  you  will  bring  it  over 
to  the  lady  in  the  morning,"  said  Percy. 

**  Very  well,"  returned  the  other.  ♦'  I 
shall  guard  it  well,  you  may  be  sure." 

The  mariners  made  way  through  the  ruins 
with  the  precious  box  and  carried  it  down  to 
the  boat.    The  gentlemen  followed. 

*'  About  this  Sir  Stephen,"  remarked  the 


262  A  Capiain  of  Ralcij^irs 


Ifc 


I 


1 1 


I 

»■      - 

li 

(       . 


t  iP: 


ij 


i!" 


Scotchman.  "  Now  why  should  the  gov- 
ern(»r  have  set  his  heart  ou  su«-h  a  thing  as 
that?    Does  tlie  hidy  agree,  1  wouderl  " 

"  That  is  more  than  I  can  say,"  replied 
Percy.  "  1  know  nothing  of  of  her  af- 
fairs. If  she  l(»ves  this  Sir  Ste[>hen  —  who- 
ever he  is  --  no  doubt  she  will  marry  him  all 
in  good  time."    lie  spoke  indifTerently. 

"  He  is  rich,  1  suppose,"  said  the  other. 
*•  But  do  you  know,  I  do  not  believe  she  is 
--  very  fond  of  him.  A  (jueer  thing  for  me 
to  say,  of  course,  and  especially  to  you,  who 
do  not  seem  to  be  interested." 

"Oh,  yes  — I  am  interested,"  replied 
Perc>,  calmly. 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  continued  MacAllister, 
•'  that  her  heart  is  not  so  far  away.  Some 
ono  nearer  —  " 

'*  What  do  yon  mean?  "  asked  the  captain, 
quickly. 

"It  is  absurd  — it  sounds  ridiculous  — 
but  I  am  afraid  that  Coffin  has  played  upon 
her  pity,"  returned  MacAllister. 

"Ah-  Coffin.  Perhaps  you  are  right," 
said  Percy.    But  his  heart  lightened,  for  he 


Master  Duvvaney's  Will  Is  Found   263 


kuow  that  if  her  love  was  anywhere  in  Bris- 
tol's Hope  it  was  not  his  poor  friend  Coffin 
who  held  it.  And  he  considered  it  a  hopeful 
augury  that  this  honest  but  unobservant 
youtii  had  seen  soniething  to  cause  him  to 
doubt  the  girl's  devotion  to  Sir  Stephen. 

Now  the  box  was  in  the  skiff  and  the  men 
wore  waiting  to  push  off.  The  gentlemen 
stepped  aboard ;  and  so  busy  was  each  with 
his  own  hopes  and  thoughts  that  not  another 
word  passed  between  them  that  night. 

At  an  early  hour  of  the  next  morning  the 
box  was  taken  aboard  the  *'  Jaguar  "  and 
given  to  Elizabeth.     The  girl  looked  at  it 
sadly  and  without  any  exhibition  of  interest. 
"  T  have  brought  some  keys.    One  of  these 
may  open  it,"  said  MacAllister.    But,  to  the 
young  man's  disgust  (for  he  was  determined 
to  let  the  others  see  that  he  considered  him- 
self her  natural  protector),  she  refused  to 
toucli  the  box  until  Percy,  Coffin  and  Ben- 
jamin Spike  were  summoned  to  the  scene. 
They  came,  greeting  her  tenderly  but  wMth 
few  words.    Even  old  Spike  kissed  her  hand 
—  though  it  was  a  saying  of  his  that  a 


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maid's  lips  were  what  the  Lord  had  intended 
men  to  kiss. 

As  no  key  could  be  found  to  fit  the  box, 
tho  lock  was  shattered  by  a  pistol-shot.  The 
smoke  cleared,  and  all  drew  close  to  the 
table. 

'•  I  do  not  want  to  open  it,''  said  Eliza- 
beth, disconsolately.  "  Please  open  it  for 
me,  Master  Spike." 

Benjamin,    immensely    flattered    by    this 
mark  of  special  favor,  laid  his  great  hands 
on  the  casket  and  had  the  cover  turned  back 
in  a  moment.     A  number  of  plump  canvas 
bags  were  disclosed  to  view.    At  a  sign  from 
Elizabeth,  Spike  removed  these  one  by  one 
and   set   them   down   on   the   table.     Each 
struck  the  board  with  a  solid,  metallic  chunk. 
Gold  coin,  beyond  a  doubt!    Elizabeth  did 
not  even  glance  at  the  bags.     It  was  her 
father's  will  that  she  waited  for  with  breath- 
less anxiety  and  a  shadow  of  dread.    Well 
she  knew  the  old  man's  plans  and  hopes  for 
her  future.     There  would  surely  be  some- 
thing in  the  fatal  message  to  threaten  the 
promises  of  sweet,  new  happiness  that  had 


p1! 


Master  Duwaney's  Will  Is  Found   265 


come  to  her  —  promises  so  sweet  and 
strange  that  even  her  grief  could  not  en- 
tirely deaden  her  heart  to  the  music  of  them. 

Spike  drew  a  long,  flat  packet  from  the 
box.  It  was  wrapped  in  parchment  and  fast- 
ened with  three  seals  of  red  wax.  On  the 
face  of  it  was  written,  **  The  Last  Will  and 
Testament  of  Master  Thomas  Duwaney,  of 
Oak  House,  Bristol,  Governor  of  Bristol's 
Hope  in  the  Newfoundland.'* 

Spike  placed  it  in  the  girl's  trembling 
hands.  She  turned  it  over  and  over,  staring 
down  at  it  with  tears  in  her  eyes  and  a  grip 
of  fear  at  her  heart.  With  visible  effort  she 
broke  the  seals  and  let  the  enclosed  docu- 
ment fall  upon  the  table.  Every  one  eyed 
the  thing  apprehensively,  for  Elizabeth's 
manner  had  set  all  their  nerves  alert  as  if 
for  some  unknown  danger. 

"  Please  read  it  to  us  — you.  Master  Mac- 
Allister,"  she  whispered.  Her  agitation  was 
so  extreme  that  she  was  forced  to  sink  to 
the  locker  and  lean  back  against  the  bulk- 
head. Percy  stepped  quickly  to  her  side, 
pale  with  concern. 


!  i 


266 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


hi 


MacAllister  began  to  read,  in  a  voice  that 
was  at  first  husky  with  nervousness  and 
presently  harsh  with  indignation,  Duwa- 
ney's  very  considerable  fortune  was  divided 
between  his  son  and  his  daughter,  two-thirds 
of  it  for  the  boy  and  one-third  for  the  girl. 
There  were  conditions,  however.  Elizabeth 
was  to  marry  Sir  Stephen  Morris,  Baronet, 
according  to  an  agreement  arrived  at  be- 
tween Duwaney  and  Morris  on  a  certain  date ; 
but  should  the  girl  refuse  to  marry  the  bar- 
onet of  her  father's  choice,  she  was  to  re- 
ceive nothing  more  from  the  estate  than  a 
yearly  income  of  one  hundred  pounds.  Sir 
Stephen  Morris,  of  Bristol,  and  Captain 
John  Mason,  of  Guy's  Colony,  were  named 
as  executors  of  the  will. 

The  girl  had  closed  her  eyes  during  the 
reading;  and  so  they  remained  for  some 
minutes  after  MacAllister 's  voice  had  ceased 
its  harsh  proclaiming. 

"Outrageous!"  cried  Coffin.  The  Scot 
turned  upon  him  slowly,  showing  a  face 
aflame  with  scorn  and  anger.  In  his  self- 
righteous  blindness  he  believed  Harold  Coffin 


;l\l 

i\'.' 


Master  Duwaney's  Will  Is  Found    -'07 

to  be  an  unprincipled  fortune-hunter.  Ben- 
jamin Spike,  glaring  at  the  offending  paper, 
choked  out  an  oath,  crashed  his  great  fist  on 
the  table  and  fairly  spluttered  with  rage. 
Percy,  pale  as  death,  made  no  sound.  He 
stood  like  one  in  a  trance,  gazing  down 
at  the  girl's  colorless  face  and  drooped 
lids. 

**  Unsound  mind.  Unsound  mind,  as  I  be 
a  livin'  sinner,"  muttered  Spike. 

The  girl  opened  her  eyes.  "  Though  it 
was  his  last  wish  —  his  dying  wish  —  I  will 
not  marry  Sir  Stephen,"  she  said,  staring 
straight  ahead  of  her.  **  He  has  threatened 
me  —  with  poverty." 

A  loud  rapping  sounded  on  the  cabin  door. 
The  gentlemen  started  nervously,  as  if  the 
spirit  of  the  autocratic  governor,  arising  in 
anger  from  the  shrouded  body  reposing  in 
the  starboard  gangway,  had  demanded  ad- 
mittance. After  a  moment's  hesitation,  Cof- 
fin went  to  the  door  and  opened  it.  He  was 
confronted  by  nothing  more  formidable  than 
the  ship's  cabin-boy. 

"  There    be    two     bullies     an*    a    skiff 


f' 


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i 


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i 


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Mi 


t 


268  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


a-roundin'  into  the  harbor,  sir,  a-flyin'  Mas- 
ter Guy's  flag,"  said  the  boy. 

His  words  reached  the  others  in  the  cabin. 

"  Quick  work,"  said  Spike,  in  his  every- 
day voice.  "  That  there  Cap'n  Mason  be  a 
smart  man." 

"  Mason.  One  of  the  executors,"  re- 
marked MacAllister,  dully. 

Percy,  swiftly  and  furtively,  touched  Eliz- 
abeth's wrist  with  his  hand. 


li 


t  ( 


^! 


I  ;i 


CHAPTER  XIX 

THE   executor's  ABBIVAL 

The  gentlemen  and  the  surviving  colonists 
hurried  ashore  to  receive  Captain  Mason  and 
his  relief  expedition  with  some  show  of  cere- 
mony. But  the  ships*  flags  were  not  dipped, 
for  they  flapped  at  half-mast. 

Captain  Mason  was  a  man  of  considerably 
past  middle-age,  square  of  build  but  some- 
what stooped  in  the  shoulders,  hard  of  fea- 
ture and  keen-eyed.  He  was  dressed  more 
like  a  shipmaster  than  the  governor  of  a 
colony,  wore  his  own  hair  clubbed  sailor- 
fashion,  walked  with  a  slight  limp  and  car- 
ried a  common  ship's  cutlass  in  his  belt.  In 
reply  to  the  elaborate  bowings  and  respect- 
ful salutations  of  the  little  group  awaiting 
him  on  the  beach,  he  lifted  his  weather- 
stained  hat  about  two  inches  from  his  head 
ard  instantly  jammed  it  back  again. 

MacAUister    stepped    forward.      Captain 


:fc4. 


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h, 


270 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


Mason  fixed  his  keen,  gray  eyes  upon  him, 
barely  touched  the  other's  extended  hand 
and  immediately  began  to  relieve  his  mind 
of  that  which  was  troubling  it. 

"  You  and  old  Duwaney  have  made  a  fine 
me-^s  of  things,"  said  he. 

r  or  MacAllister  flushed  and  stammered. 
-  ercy  and  the  others  turned  their  eyes  away 
from  the  two.  They  were  sorry  for  Mac- 
Allister now  tb..t  the  redoubtable,  out- 
spoken Captain  i..ttson  had  hold  of  him. 

"  Imbecile!  "  exploded  Mason.  He  looked 
up  at  the  wreck  of  the  colony.  '*  Good  work 
thrown  away,"  he  continued.  "  Honest  lives 
wasted.  I  warned  the  Company  a  year  ago. 
Incapables,  you  and  Duwaney.  No  more  fit 
to  lead  men  than  two  infants.  . . .  "  ^  the 
old  man  died  in  a  fit,  did  he?  ^  -  Jads 
told  me.  Well,  'twas  the  best  thin^  lie  could 
have  done,  after  letting  a  few  score  fisher- 
men rush  his  defences  and  slaughter  his  peo- 
ple. Oh,  you  need  not  say  anything,  young 
man.  Coffin  and  his  lads  did  the  only  work 
of  the  engagement  that  bears  speaking  of  — 
and  then  along  came  this  other  vessel  and 


!:: 


^Pl 


The  Executor's  Arrival 


271 


rescued  the  women.  You  must  feel  damn 
proud  of  your  performance.  Master  Donald 
MacAllister.  If  you  belonged  to  the  navy 
or  the  army  you'd  be  shot  like  a  dog  for  your 
infernal  uselessness  and  stupidity.  Yes,  by 
Heaven  —  that's  the  ugly  truth  of  it." 

MacAllister  stepped  bacif,  all  the  pride 
and  insolence  gone  out  of  him,  pain  and  hu- 
miliation tearing  him,  his  face  twisted  like 
a  mask.  He  walked  away,  and  up  the  path 
to  the  wrecked  village,  without  a  word 
or  a  gesture,  like  a  man  walking  in  his 
sleep. 

The  others  gazed  blankly  at  their  visitor. 

**  For  shame,"  said  a  quiet  voice. 

"Hey!  What's  that?  Who  spoke?" 
snapped  Mason,  his  eyes  glinting  from  face 
to  face. 

**  I  spoke,"  said  John  Percy. 

**  And  who  are  you,  to  speak  before  yon 
are  spoken  to?  " 

**  John  Percy,  of  the  *  Jaguar.*  " 

"  I  have  heard  of  you  —  and  nothing  to 
your  credit.  It  will  be  wise  of  you  to  keep 
a  civil  tongue  in  your  head." 


fe 


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272 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


' '  My  tonrrue  is  as  God  made  it  —  and  I 
am  its  only  master, ' ' 

*•  You  are  a  damn,  dirty  traitor,  sir,  that's 
what  you  are." 

•'  True,  I  no  longer  pretend  allegiance  to 
the  person  now  on  the  throne  of  England," 
replied  Percy,  calmly.  **  On  that  point  you 
cannot  ruffle  me.  I  cried  shame  on  you  just 
now  because  I  felt  that  your  behavior  toward 
MacAUister  was  shameful  —  and  I  usually 
say  what  I  feel.  You  spoke  heartlessly  — 
and  the  Scot  is  honest  and  brave  enough,  as 
you  know.  But  as  you  have  come  to  help 
these  unfortunate  people  and  I  have  re- 
mained in  the  harl)or  for  the  same  purpose, 
we  are  wasting  our  time  and  theirs  in  stand- 
ing here  insulting  each  other.  There  is  work 
to  he  done  —  and  to  begin  with,  you  are  one 
of  the  executors  of  Master  Duwaney'a  will." 

**  An  executor  of  Duwaney's  will?  Im- 
possible! "  exclaimed  Mason. 

Then  Percy  told  him  of  the  governor's 
last  words,  of  the  discovery  of  the  will  and 
of  its  purport.  Also,  he  had  to  explain  Eliz- 
abeth's presence  in  Bristol's  Hope. 


i' 


The  Executor's  Arrival 


273 


Captain  Mason  was  astonished.  **  Mad!  '* 
he  exclaimed.  "A  mad  ♦*;'milyl  And  yet 
the  old  man  displayed  a  glimmering  of  sense 
when  he  arranged  tliat  the  young  lady  is  to 
marry  Sir  Stephen  Morris.  A  substantial 
man  is  Sir  Stephen.  I  know  him  well.  'Twill 
be  a  fine  upward  step  for  old  Tom  Duwa- 
ney's  daughter.  But  it  takes  two  to  make 
an  arrangement  of  that  kind  —  and  I  won- 
der what  Sir  Stephen  will  think  of  it." 

"  You  need  feel  no  uneasiness  on  that 
score,"  replied  Percy,  coldly,  **  for  this  man 
and  Duwaney  had  planned  the  thing  to- 
gether without  the  lady's  knowledge." 

**  You  don't  seem  to  be  on  friendly  terms 
with  the  baronet,"  said  the  governor  of 
Guy's,  sharply. 

Percy  was  about  to  retort  in  a  way  t^  it 
would  have  made  hot  blood  again  \v  hen  .  ,en- 
jamin  Spike  stepped  in  front  of  him  and 
addressed  Mason.  **  Will  ye  give  us  per- 
mission to  distribute  the  food  an'  blankets 
ye  brought  along,  sir,  whilst  ye  take  a  look 
at  the  young  lady  an'  the  will,  sir,  aboard 
the  *  Jaguar?  '  " 


n 


S,;. 


f:  '•' 


3       f 

II 


Hi' 


274 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


ji  I 


1 


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1>. 


*'  And  something  warming,  sir,  before  you 
begin  business,"  said  the  artful  de  Verney. 
*'  You  have  made  a  long  journey  —  and  we 
have  some  excellent  stuff  aboard  the  '  Ja- 
guar.' " 

Percy,  seeing  that  his  friends  were  work- 
ing in  the  cause  of  peace,  choked  down  hia 
anger  at  the  visitor  and  seconded  de  Ver- 
ney's  suggestion. 

"As  it  is  plainly  ray  duty  to  go  and  read 
this  will  and  see  this  young  lady,  I'll  go," 
said  Captain  Mason. 

And  so  he  went,  in  one  of  the  "  Jaguar's  " 
boats  and  with  the  affable  de  Verney  beside 
him. 

**  By  the  eternal!  "  exclaimed  Percy,  "  if 
I  hear  that  he  says  one  unkind  word  to  her 
I'll  have  his  life  for  it." 

**  Leave  him  to  her,  an'  don't  ye  worry,'* 
returned  Spike.  "  He'll  not  frighten  her, 
ye  may  lay  to  that.  An'  he'll  larn  the  truth 
o'  how  she  feels  about  that  there  godless 
document  from  her  own  lips. ' ' 

"  Yes,  she  knows  her  own  mind  too  well 
to  be  disturbed  by  John  Mason's  snarling. 


The  Executor's  Arrival 


276 


Whatever  she  thinks  to  be  right  she  will 
stand  by,  —  and  to  hell  with  the  doubloons," 
suid  Coffin,  with  frank  admiration.  ' '  So  you 
need  not  worry,  Jack,"  he  added,  looking 
straight  into  Percy's  eyes.  "  She's  not  the 
kind  to  be  frightened  into  fo" .  siting  either 
her  friends  or  her  own  hep'' 

Just  then,  Donald  MacAJii.ier  came  run- 
ning down  to  the  group.  lie  looked  more 
like  a  maniac  than  a  presumably  sane  Scotch 
gentleman. 

"You  heard  him!"  he  cried.  "God's 
mercy !  he  must  pay  for  it.  I  bungled  —  but 
he  spoke  to  me  like  a  dog.  He  will  answer 
for  it." 

"  He  is  yo  *•  senior  officer,"  said  Percy. 
"  If  you  fight  im,  'twill  be  the  end  of  your 
career  in  the  Company's  service." 

The  "i  ot  laughed  hysterically.  "  Damn 
I'.e  Company!  "  he  replied.  "  Though  he 
were  the  King  of  England,  and  I  hung  for 
it  next  day,  I'd  singe  him  for  that.  T  am  a 
bungler  —  and  if  it  were  only  for  myself  I'd 
swallow  the  insults;  but  what  of  my  family! 
—  of  my  ancestors  ?  —  and  of  the  dead  gov- 


111 


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A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


ernor  I  He  insulted  and  reviled  the  unburied 
dead,  by  the  eternal  1  ' ' 

*'  You  are  right,"  said  Coffin.  **  A  gen- 
tleman cannot  be  expected  to  stand  that  sort 
of  thing  from  any  one.  But  he  is  your  senior 
officer,  as  Percy  says.  Also,  he  is  no  match 
for  you.  He  drags  one  foot  —  and  he  is  not 
as  large  as  you.  Let  me  represent  you  in 
this  matter,  MacAllister.  I'd  consider  it  a 
great  compliment  —  and  no  trouble  with  the 
Company,  later.  Your  hand  need  not  show 
in  the  affair,  at  all;  and  I  promise  you  I'll 
square  the  thing  for  you,  your  family  and 
the  dead  governor." 

MacAllister  stared  at  him  with  blank  as- 
tonishment. '*  But  you  are  as  much  in  the 
Company's  service  as  I  am,"  he  said.  '*  And 
why  should  you  fight  him  ?  He  did  not  insult 
you  —  far  from  it. " 

'  *  I  have  no  career  ahead  of  me ;  and  I 
intend  to  give  up  my  command  as  soon  as 
this  trouble  is  over  —  as  soon  as  these  peo- 
ple are  provided  for  in  some  way." 

**  But  —  but  this  thing  is  impossible,"  re- 
turned  MacAllister.     "To  be  honest  with 


m 


The  Executor's  Arrival 


277 


you,  Coffin,  I  —  I  intend  to  engage  you,  too, 
before  long.  When  you  went  after  the  lug- 
ger you  left  me  behind,  though  you  heard 
me  shouting  after  you.  That  was  treating 
me  like  dirt.  You  must  give  me  satisfaction 
for  that,  Coffin." 

"  It  would  have  been  a  waste  of  precious 
minutes  to  turn  back, ' '  replied  Coffin,  quietly. 
"  But  of  course,  if  you  feel  that  I  have 
slighted  or  ruffled  you  in  any  way,  I'll  do 
what  I  can  to  —  to  mend  matters.  I  am  the 
last  person  in  the  world  to  refuse  satisfac- 
tion to  any  gentleman  who  feels  that  I  have 
injured  his  dignity.  But  this  has  nothing  to 
do  with  Captain  Mason.  Ours  is  a  private 
affair,  between  intimates  you  might  say.  So 
let  us  agree  to  let  it  rest  until  we  have  dealt 
with  Mason,  who,  in  words  and  manner,  in- 
sulted every  man  and  woman  of  this  colony, 
alive  and  dead.  Mason  and  I  are  somewhat 
on  equal  terms,  physically.  Let  me  deal 
with  him  —  and  after  that  I'll  be  ready  for 
you.  I  promise  you  not  to  kill  him  —  for 
that  would  be  going  too  far,  and  I  am  not 
a  man  of  blood  —  and  I  also  promise  not  to 


1^' 


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i  ./^ 


278  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


" 


let  him  kill  me.  Come,  MacAllister,  be  rea- 
sonable. Be  generous.  This  arrangement 
would  suit  everybody  concerned  —  including 
Captain  Mason.  You,  with  your  hot  temper, 
might  give  him  a  mortal  stroke,  inadvert- 
ently.   Then  there 'd  be  the  devil  to  pay." 

"  By  Heaven!  "  exclaimed  Percy,  '*  you 
two  are  talking  like  madmen. ' '  Then,  catch- 
ing a  glance  from  Coffin,  he  understood.  He 
knew  a  great  deal  of  his  friend,  and  he 
guessed  more.  MacAllister,  with  his  uncon- 
trollable temper  and  imperfect  skill  with 
both  sword  or  pistol,  would  pr(  ')ably  kill 
Captain  Mason  or  suffer  death  himself  if 
the  affair  were  left  in  his  hands.  But  Coffin, 
clear  of  head  and  a  master  of  both  weapons, 
would  bring  the  trouble  to  a  safe  finish. 

'*  But  if  you  are  determined  that  Mason 
should  be  called  to  account  for  his  unwar- 
rantable language  and  bad  manners,"  he 
continued,  "  I  think  it  would  be  well  for  Cof- 
fin to  deal  with  him." 

After  a  great  deal  of  argument  and  per- 
suasion, MacAllister  was  convinced  (he  was 
not  in  a  fit  state  of  mind  for  clear  reason- 


The  Executor's  Arrival 


279 


iug)  that  it  would  bring  trouble  to  everybody 
in  the  colony,  and  many  people  in  England 
and  Scotland,  if  he  were  to  engage  Governor 
Mason.  So  it  was  agreed  that  Harold  Coffin 
should  find  or  make  an  opportunity,  some- 
time after  Duwaney's  funeral,  to  bring  Ma- 
sou  to  book. 

Spike  and  Coffin  set  to  work  at  distrib- 
uting the  provisions  from  Guy's  Colony 
among  the  sufferers.  MacAllister  helped 
them  at  this  job  for  a  little  while,  and  then 
called  two  of  the  colonists  and  set  them  at 
the  task  of  digging  a  grave  for  their  late 
governor. 

Percy  returned  to  the  "  Jaguar."  He  had 
no  more  than  stepped  to  the  deck  than  he 
was  accosted  by  Captain  Mason,  who  had 
just  issued  from  the  cabin. 

"  I  cannot  understand  that  girl!  "  ex- 
claimed iSfason.  "  She  is  stark,  staring  mad, 
T  do  believe.  Bless  my  soul !  she  treated  me 
like  —  like  nothing.  And  the  things  she  said 
about  her  father's  will,  and  about  Sir  Ste- 
phen Morris  were  —  well,  damnably  unnat- 
ural." 


'    \i 


i'\ 


A 


^ 


t 


If 


r.       i      1       U 


-if 


■■+ 


I- 


B. 


,  it 

i'r 

i  1'  !i 


'  / 


t 


m 


■ 

-■  f 

i 

i 

'II 
ij 

1  , 

r  ■ 

j ! 

280  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


"  This  way,  sir,  where  we  can  talk  more 
privately,"  interrupted  Percy,  leading  the 
way  to  the  little  round-house  which  stood  on 
the  main  deck  just  forward  of  the  mainmast. 
He  opened  the  door  and  bowed  his  visitor 
within.  Mason  paused  for  a  second  on  the 
threshold,  eyed  Per-y  keenly  as  if  a  sus- 
picion of  treachery  had  suddenly  come  to 
him,  then  entered  and  sat  down  on  the  locker 
that  ran  around  the  little  apartment.  The 
other,  having  read  the  meaning  of  the 
glance,  smiled  quietly  and  left  the  door 
open. 

A  small  table  stood  in  the  centre  of  the 
round-house,  bolted  to  the  deck.  Percy 
placed  a  flask  and  two  glasses  on  the  table; 
but  his  guest  refused  to  drink.  "  I  have 
already  had  a  glass  with  that  young  man 
who  came  aboard  with  me,"  he  said,  ungra- 
ciously. Then,  *'  I  was  speaking  of  my  in- 
terview with  Mistress  Elizabeth  Duwaney," 
he  continued.  "  She  behaved  like  one  men- 
tally deranged.  If  it  was  not  for  the  help- 
lessness of  her  position  I'd  wash  my  hands 
of  the  affair.     She  treated  me  most  disre- 


M 


The  Executor's  Arrival 


281 


spectfuUy.  But  I  will  do  my  duty  by  her, 
whether  she  likes  it  or  not.  I'll  take  her  to 
luy  own  house  at  (Juy's,  where  Mistress 
Mason  will  socn  bring  her  to  her  senses." 

'  So !  And  have  you  suggested  this  to  the 
young  lady  ?  ' '  inquired  Percy,  unable  to  con- 
ceal his  anxiety. 

"  All  in  good  time.  I'll  speak  to  her  again 
after  we  have  put  her  fi^^uer  underground," 
replied  the  other. 

"  Did  she  refuse  to  comply  with  the  con- 
ditions of  the  will!  "  asked  the  commander 
of  the  '*  Jaguar." 

"  Point-blank,"  answered  Mpson.  **  She 
said  she  never  cared  for  Sir  Stephen  Morris 
and  that  now,  since  she  iias  found  him  guilty 
of  underhand  methods,  she  despises  him. 
Of  course  shr  will  change  her  mind  —  unless 
she  is  a  hopeless  fciol."  He  paused  and 
turnc  1  his  ^een  glar.ee  on  Percy's  face.  *  I 
suspect,"  he  continued,  *'  that  her  affections 
have  been  tampered  with  by  sot  ■  dishonor- 
able adventurer.  She  a«!  much  arlmitted, 
UTi guardedly,  that  she  loved  some  one  not 
very  far  away.    Well,  I'll  put  a  stop  to  it. 


'   111 


mmmmmmmm 


<J'i 


: 


I  t 


I'!-!" 


^l 


\  k\ 


nil  I, 


,1 
ill 


282  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


Do  you  think  MacAllister  has  caught  ?ier 
silly  fancy?  " 

'*  I  —  I  am  sure  I  don't  know.  How  the 
devil  should  I  know?  "  replied  Percy,  star- 
ing at  the  deck  and  uncomfortably  conscious 
of  the  blood  tingling  in  his  chieks. 

**  Or  young  Coffin,  perhaps?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  I  tell  you." 

"  Ah,  so  you  don't  know.  Captain  John 
Percy,"  sneered  Mason.  **  Well,  sir,  I  do 
know.  I  saw  the  truth  in  her  face  when  I 
mentioned  your  name  —  and  now  I  see  it  in 
yours.    Guilty!    Aye,  guilty  as  hell!  " 

Percy  sprang  to  his  feet.  «'  Do  you  say 
that  she  loves  me?  "  he  cried,  glaring  down 
at  his  visitor  with  a  flaming  face.  For  all 
his  sharpness  of  vision.  Mason  mistook  the 
expression  on  Percy's  face  for  the  fire  of 
guilty  rage.  Flurried  but  undaunted,  he 
clapped  his  hand  to  the  butt  of  a  pistol  in 
his  belt. 

"  And  what  if  I  do?  "  he  cried.  "  Have 
a  care  what  you  are  about.  Stand  back,  or 
I'll  blow  your  head  off !  " 

Without  a  word  in  reply  to  this  gentle 


The  Executor's  Arrival 


£83 


threat,  Percy  stepped  quickly  from  the 
round-house,  slammed  the  door  behind  him 
and  ran  aft  for  the  cabin.  He  was  actually 
afraid  of  Captain  Mason  — afraid  that  the 
overbearing  fellow  would  delay  his  meeting 
with  Elizabeth,  or  perhaps  stop  it  entirely 
with  a  bullet.  Fear  was  foreign  to  his  na- 
ture; but  he  felt  it  now  with  a  vengeance. 
He  must  see  Elizabeth,  immediately,  and 
learn  the  truth.  That  was  the  ouly  thing  in 
the  wide  world  that  mattered  now;  and  yet 
that  fool  in  the  round-house,  suspecting  trea- 
son, might  catch  him  with  a  bullet  before  he 
reached  her.  He  entered  the  cabin  without 
pausmg  ^o  make  known  his  arrival,  closed 
the  door  after  him  and  shot  the  bolts.  He 
was  safe.  He  could  hear  Captain  Mason 
shouting  his  name  outside. 


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11 


yL 


CHAPTER  XX 


THE    MAGIC    HOUR 


The  cabin  was  empty.  John  Perc^  stood 
quiet  for  a  little  while,  peering  around  in  the 
gloom  and  half-lights,  listening  anxiously. 

This  had  the  air  of  a  sacred  place  to  him 
since  it  had  been  given  over  to  Elizabeth's 
sole  use.  Without  raved  the  governor  of 
Guy's  and  lay  the  nerveless  body  of  the 
governor  of  Bristol's  Hope.  Without,  anger 
and  death;  and  within  Youth  listened  for 
the  sound  of  Love's  breathing. 

Percy  moved  forward  to  the  centre  of  the 
cabin.  He  saw  that  the  door  of  the  berth 
that  had  once  been  his  own  stood  ajar.  Now 
he  was  to  test  his  fate,  and  a  sharp  trembling 
possessed  him  like  unto  nothing  he  had  ever 
experienced  before  in  stress  of  danger  or 
exhilaration.  "  Elizabeth,"  he  called,  in  a 
voice  that  broke  scarcely  above  a  whisper. 
The  narrow   door   of  the  berth   opened 

284 


i:.' 


The  Magic  Hour 


285 


noiselessly  and  the  girl  stood  there,  motion- 
less and  silent,  with  downcast  eyes.  Her 
splendid  hair  hung  loose  and  tumbled  upon 
her  shoulders,  and  in  her  clear  brow  and 
perfect  cheeks  a  tender  radiance  was  light- 
ening and  expanding.  From  throat  to  feet 
she  was  draped  in  her  brother's  great  cloak. 

Percy  advanced  swiftly  and  sank  on  one 
knee  before  her.  He  did  not  look  up  but 
knelt  so,  with  bowed  head,  motionless  as  a 
cavalier  carved  from  stone. 

"  Elizabeth,"  he  began,  huskily,  slowly; 
and  then,  "  I  love  you,"  he  whispered.  **  As 
God  sees  me,  I  love  you !  I  am  yours  —  body 
and  soul  —  to  make  or  mar.  God  hav^ 
mercy  on  me !  " 

"  Look  up,"  she  breathed. 

He  raised  his  face  and  looked  up  into  her 
eyes.  They  were  beautiful,  steady,  pleading 
and  demanding,  and  at  once  shadowed  and 
illumined  to  unfathomable  depths.  And  he 
knew  that  she  was  reading  him,  heart  and 
soul ;  seeing  the  truth,  the  fibre  of  his  spirit, 
the  true  metal  of  his  heart.  He  knew  that 
she  was  testing  the  reality,  proving  the  fu- 


[I 


'•I 


i 


M 


^  1 


•-in- 1 


1 1 ■  '•■ 


Hi 


286  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 

ture  and  not  prying  nto  the  past.  And 
kneeling  so,  motionless  and  scarcely  breath- 
ing, he  unshaded  the  windows  of  his  being  — 
of  his  very  soul  —  to  that  tender  and  glori- 
ous inquiry. 

Her  hands  moved  toward  him  from  the 
folds  of  the  great  cloak.  She  stooped  and 
laid  her  arms  about  his  neck  and  pressed 
her  lips  to  his  forehead.  "Oh!  I  love  you 
so,"  she  breathed. 

The  strong  man  trembled,  closed  his  eyes 
and  clutched  a  fold  of  lier  garments  for  sup- 
port. They  remained  thus  for  a  little  while 
—  for  a  life-time,  perliaps  —  for  a  dozen 
heart-beats.  Then  he  arose  mightily  to  his 
feet,  raising  her  with  him,  pressed  her  to 
his  breast  and  kissed  her  lips  and  her  eyes 
again  and  again.  And  all  the  while,  un- 
knowingly, he  murmured  her  name,  and  the 
name  of  God,  and  strange  little  oaths  tliat 
were  surely  recorded  in  Heaven  as  prayers 
of  thanksgiving. 

At  last  Percy  brought  his  mind  back  to 
earth  and  its  petty  necessities  and  complica- 
tions;   but  his  heart  remained  aloft  in  that 


I  "i 


The  Magic  Hour 


287 


region  of  gold  and  rosy  miats,  starry  high- 
ways and  azure  battlements  and  Youth's  ira 
perishable  pleasure-gardens  —  a  region  that 
only  the  hearts  of  lovers  and  saints  and 
poets  may  ascend  to,  above  the  dust  and 
clangor  of  this  life,  until  the  final  releasing 
of  the  spirit. 

*'  But  the  sacrifice,"  he  whispered.  **  I 
win  all.  You  relinquish  all  —  the  wealth  — 
the  great  and  sheltered  life." 

Elizabeth  smiled  fleetingly.  The  white 
lids  fluttered  up  for  an  instant  and  drooped 
again.  She  had  andwered  him  in  unmis- 
takable terms. 

**  But  it  is  a  serious  matter,"  continued 
Percy,  gravely  yet  joyously.  **  I  am  an  out- 
law, an  exile  from  my  own  country,  a  crim- 
inal in  the  eyes  of  the  English  law.  I  hunt 
—  and  I  am  hunted.'* 

"  And  you  are  poor,"  said  the  girl;  **  and 
wicked,  smug  persons  have  set  a  price  on 
your  head.  You  see,  Dearest  Dear,  how  T 
know  everything.  You  are  brave,  and  true 
to  your  friends,  and  gentle,  for  all  the  tales 
thev  tell  of  battle  and  bloodshed.    And  you 

V 


f  'I 


« 


I 

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i 

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'  i  'I 


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1  i 


I  ! 


»  ^ 


F    iln 
■*     '  ill 

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>f' 


m\ 


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!• 


.  I 


If 

t  i 


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|i!        : 

':>    ,  i 

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. 

1  ;■■ 

1  ' 

» 

1  ii-:;     : 

i:n 

li^  i: 

288 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


love  me,  and  I  love  you ;  and  would  you  ask 
me  to  trade  away  our  love  for  a  great  house, 
and  gold  and  heartache  —  and  a  slieltered 
life?  " 

"  As  God  sees  me,"  replied  Captain 
Percy,  *'  I  love  you  as  I  never  thought  a 
man  could  love  a  woman.  The  glory  and  tlie 
wonderful  miracle  of  it  blind  '  f».  I  loved 
you  when  I  first  saw  you  —  and  iiie  love  has 
grown  with  the  passing  of  every  hour,  near 
you  or  afar  from  yon,  day  and  night." 

**  I  saw  it,"  she  answered.  **  It  flashed 
into  your  eyes  when  they  first  met  mine, 
aboard  the  *  Good  Fortune.'  " 

"And  you?" 

'*  Yes,  I  loved  you  then  —  and  more  and 
more,  ever  since." 

After  these  important  matters  had  been 
dealt  with  to  their  mutual  satisfaction,  he 
told  her  of  his  plans  for  their  future  —  of  the 
embowered  place  in  the  southern  island  and 
of  the  safe  retreat  in  the  New  England  col- 
ony; of  how  all  act  and  intention  of  revenge 
were  now  put  by  and  his  only  wish  was  to 
live  for  her. 


The  Magic  Hour 


289 


A  sharp  rapping  on  the  outer  door  of  the 
(•al)in  interrupted  their  planning  of  the  won- 
derful future.  With  a  sigh  an«l  the  hun- 
dredth embrace,  Percy  released  the  girl  from 
his  arras,  stepped  to  the  door,  noiselessly 
withdrew  the  bolts  and  opened  it.  There 
stood  Master  de  Verney. 

"  Mason  is  on  his  high  horse  again  and 
has  gone  ashore  in  a  fury,"  he  said,  with 
evident  relish.  "  He  has  been  damning  ai. 
of  us  up  and  down  —  and  you  in  particular, 
lie  has  read  your  little  secret  and  swears 
that  he  will  take  the  young  lady  to  his  own 
house,  and  the  protection  of  Mistress  Mason, 
if  he  has  to  resort  to  force.  He  even  sug- 
gested that  he  might  hang  us  all  by  the  necks 
for  pirates;  bu  he  implied  that  he  will  let 
us  live  until  after  Duwaney's  funeral,  which 
is  to  take  place  in  an  hour." 

"  Oh,  let  the  poor  old  boy  have  his  fling. 
Tt  does  hira  good,  no  doubt,  and  it  does 
not  hurt  us,"  replied  Percy,  stepping  out 
of  the  cabin  and  closing  the  door  behind 
him. 


"  You  seem  to  be  in  an  amazing  sv 


0.-? 


Hi 


I  li 


.'      M 


i  i\ 


Ji 


lilt 


^ 


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it 
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II 


290 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


frame  of  mind,"  remarked  de  Verney,  eying 
him  inquiringly. 

The  captain  laid  a  hand  on  his  friend's 
shoulder.  "I  am,"  he  said --and  no 
wonder.  She  loves  me.  She  is  willing  to 
marry  me.  And  yet  she  knows  that  I  am  an 
outlaw  —  she  knows  everything." 

De  Verney  congratulated  him  warmly  and 
sincerely.     Under  the  worldly  veneer   and 
foppish  airs  of  this  offspring  of  a  French 
father  and  English  mother  there  was  a  gen- 
uine fibre  of  manhood.     ''  You  are  a  lucky 
mortal,"  he  said.    *'  By  the  eternal!  she  is 
a  woman   in   ten   thousand.     I  have   seen 
a-many,  John,  here  and  there,  but  never  a 
one  her  equal.    If  it  wasn't  for  fear  of  your 
uncouth  great  bilboe  and  your  disgusting 
temper  I'd  not  let  you  win  the  prize  so  easily. 
But  there  —  I  am  a  man  of  peace.    But  what 
are  we  to  do?  — we  poor  devils  who  have 
no  lady  to  love  us  and  no  good  comrade  to 
command  us  and  a  risky  undertaking  to  hand 
whereby  we  must  fill  our  pockets?    Who  will 
take  your  berth  aboard  the  old  *  Jaguar  ' 
now,  John? 


»» 


The  Magic  Hour 


291 


«'  My  dear  friend,"  replied  Percy,  deeply 
moved,  '*  that  is  a  question  I  could  not  find 
the  courage  to  deal  with  but  for  the  great 
joy  that  has  come  to  me.    The  thing  must  be 
faced,  however;    and  I  think  we'll  be  able 
to  decide  everything  to-morrow.    Of  course 
it  is  for  me  to  suggest  only  and  for  you  to 
decide.    What  think  you  of  young  Coffin?  " 
"  The  little  fellow  is  a  hero,"  returned 
de  Verney.    * '  Our  lads  have  learned  to  wor- 
ship  him  — as    a   fighting-man  —  from   the 
talk  of  the  crew  of  the  *  Good  Fortune.' 
And  even  Horace  admires  him.    There  has 
been  a  good  deal  of  quiet  talk  of  asking  him 
to  join  us  for  this  last  cruise.    If  we  must 
lose  you  I  believe  we  could  not  find  a  better 
substitute  than  Coffin.     He  is  all  fire  and 
lightning,  that  little  bag  of  bones !    I  do  be- 
lieve he'd  flash  his  iron  on  the  devil  him- 
self! " 

"  You  are  right,  I  will  find  out  what  he  has 
to  say  to  the  suggestion,"  returned  Percy. 

The  funeral  of  the  late  Master  Thomas 
Duwaney  took  place  about  two  hours  before 


vH 


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< 

It  i 

II  ^':|;i 


292 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


sunset,   with   pomp  and  circumstance   that 
would  have  warmed  the  old  ex-alderman's 
heart.     Governor  Mason  would  have  it  so, 
for  the  honor  and  the  glory  of  the  great  Com- 
pany and  the  Royal  Charter  under  which  it 
had  its  being;  and  among  the  others  private 
feelings  were  cloaked  for  the  time  for  the 
sake  of  Elizabeth.     The  body  was   rowed 
ashore   in   the   "Jaguar's"   largest   Voat, 
stitch-d  in  sail-cloth,  sea-fashion,  wrapped 
about  in  the  red  ensign ;  and  eight  men  pulled 
on  the  oars  and  Captain  Mason  and  Master 
Coffin  sat  elbow  to  elbow  in  the  stem-sheets. 
MacAllister  had  not  been  able  to  nerve  him- 
self to  take  his  right  place  beside  the  gov- 
ernor of  Guy's.     He  was   afraid  that   he 
might   forget   himself   so   far  as   to   pitch 
Mason   overboard;    an  insult  to   his   dead 
commander  and  Mistress  Duwaney  which  he 
quaked  to  think  of.     So  he  followed  in  an- 
other  boat   with    Spike   and    John    Percy. 
Every  soul   from   the  two   ships,   save  the 
wounded,  Elizabeth  and  one  of  the  women, 
attended  tlie  funoral.     Since  the  disolosuro 
of  the  will  the  girl  felt  that  her  father  had 


The  Magic  Hour 


293 


behaved  trercherously  toward  her;  and  her 
grief  for  this  was  greater  and  far  more  bit- 
ter than  the  grief  of  her  loss.  And,  for  all 
her  brave  heart,  she  was  afraid  to  meet  the 
hard  eyes  of  Captain  Mason  across  that  poor 

clay.    - 

A  iiring-party  was  made  up  of  the  sur- 
vivors of  the  ruined  plantation.    As  soon  as 
the  leading  boat  reached  the  shore  the  gra- 
ting on  which  the  body  lay  was  lifted  by 
four  of  the  rowers  and  carried  up  to  the  open 
grave,  escorted  by  the  firing-party  and  the 
gentlemen.     The  others  crowded  close  be- 
hind.    On  the  deserted   ships  the  ensigns 
hung  at  half-mast.     For  all  the  clutter  of 
people,  there  was  no  sound  above  a  whisper 
and  the  scrap*^  of  heavy  feet.    Up  the  steep 
and  twisting  path  moved  the  bulk  of  sense- 
less clay  in  its  glorious  shroud,  with   the 
heavy   grating   lurchi-'g  like   a   raft   on    a 
stormy  sea  and  the  brawny  fellows  puffing 
and  straining.    On  either  side  scrambled  the 
lads  with  the  muskets,  doing  their  best  to 
maintain  the  required  militarj'  formation. 

The  raw,  unlovely  trench  was  surrounded. 


:m 


1 1 

..11 


H 


I » 


1 


U 
V- 

1 

1  ui; 


4 
I 


I 


lit 


!i 


I': 


4 


f            i 

■        i ! 
1, 

■'■    !* 

i  ■■ 

!)■* 


!l 


294 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


Governor  Mason,  plain  and  formidable,  with 
his  weather-stained  hat  placed  carefully  on 
a  mound  of  fresh  earth  at  his  feet,  opened 
his  book  and  read  the  words  that  are  there. 
From  force  of  habit,  he  delivered  those  pas- 
sages that  are  intended  for  burials  at  sea. 
His  voice  rang  level  and  clear,  but  without 
feeling. 

'*  Man  that  is  bom  of  a  woman  hath  but 
a  short  time  to  live,  and  *s  full  of  misery. 
He  Cometh  up,  and  is  cut  down,  like  a  flower ; 
he  fleeth  as  it  were  a  shadow,  and  never  con- 
tinueth  in  one  stay.  ...  In  the  midst  of  life 
we  are  in  death;  of  whom  may  we  seek  for 
succor  but  of  Thee,  0  Lord,  who  for  our  sins 
art  justly  displeased.  .  .  .  Thou  knowest, 
Lord,  the  secrets  of  our  hearts;  shut  not 
thy  merciful  ears  to  our  prayer.  .  .  .  For- 
asmuch as  it  has  pleased  Almighty  God  to 
take  unto  himself  the  soul  of  our  dead 
brother  here  departed,  we  therefore  commit 
his  body  to  the  deep,  to  be  turned  into  cor- 
ruption, looking  for  the  resurrection  of  the 
body  when  the  Sea  shall  give  up  her 
dead.'* 


HI 


The  Magic  Hour 


395 


The  mistake  passed  unnoticed  by  the  ma- 
jority of  the  people.  The  four  sailors  at 
the  grating  did  their  part  in  true  seaman 
fashion;  at  a  sign  from  Mason  they  hoisted 
one  end  of  the  grating  with  a  will,  as  if  the 
shadowy  deeps  in  truth  awaited  the  offering 
of  clay,  and  slid  the  red-shrouded  body  vio- 
lently into  the  trench.  A  woman  screamed 
at  that.  Captain  Mason  turned  and  raised 
his  hand  with  a  magnificent  gesture,  and  she 
crouched  against  a  companion  and  was  si- 
lent. Then  one  of  the  sailors  jumped  down 
into  the  grave,  straightened  the  body  and 
withdrew  the  flag  from  the  long,  white  shape. 

*'  Leave  the  flag!  "  cried  Coffin. 

Governor  Mason  shot  a  withering  glance 
at  him.  **  Bring  up  the  ensign,"  he  com- 
manded. 

Governor  Mason's  voice  was  clear  and 
hard ;  but  evidently  the  mariner  did  not  hear 
it.  He  spread  the  red  bunting  over  the  body 
again,  reverently  and  slowly  arranging  the 
glowing  folds.  When  the  thing  was  done  to 
his  satisfaction  he  vaulted  out  of  the  grave 
and  returned  to  his  place  beside  his  com- 


(  It 
•1 


ti 
•4 

Ik   ' 


|i    I     II', • 
I 


296 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


rades  of  the  "  Jaguar,"  without  so  much  as 
a  glance  toward  the  keen-eyed,  hard-jawed 
autocrat  from  Guy's. 

The  more  observant  of  the  company  felt 
decidedly  ill  at  ease,  for  they  fully  expected 
an  angry  scene  between  Mason  and  Coffin. 
But  Coffin  stood  straight  and  unconcerned, 
with  his  glance  on  the  ground;  and  Mason, 
with  a  visible  effort,  went  on  with  the  work 
in  hand. 

Three  volleys  were  fired  above  the  grave 
by  the  brave  but  untrained  squad;  and  at 
the  sound  of  the  last  the  flags  were  hauled 
down  by  the  wounded  aboard  the  ships.  A 
strange  burial  this,  for  a  respectable  ex- 
aldernian  of  Bristol  —  a  queer  jumble  of 
naval  and  military  honors.  But  it  would 
hn^■o  jileased  Duwaney  vastly,  could  he  have 
but  seen  aud  heard  it. 

The  deep  trench  was  filled  in  with  the 
rocky  soil  and  a  wooden  cross  was  set  up. 
Tlien  the  men  were  ordered  back  to  the 
ships. 

Governor  Mason  turned  to  Master  Harold 
Coffin.    **  I  have  decided  to  remove  the  sur- 


M 


t 


The  Magic  Hour 


297 


vivors  of  this  plantation  around  to  my  own 
harbor,"  he  said.  *'  Is  the  *  Good  Fortune  ' 
in  a  fit  state  to  make  the  trip?  " 

♦'  You  must  ask  Master  Spike,"  replied 
Coffin. 

"  How  so?  " 

"  I  resign  my  command  of  her;  therefore 
you  must  address  any  inquiries,  or  orders, 
to  Spike." 

"  What  d'ye  mean?  " 

"  I  mean  that  I  have  decided  not  to  remain 
in  the  Company's  service  another  hour,  since 
sening  the  Company  means  serving  under 

you," 

"  This  is  mutiny!  — treason!  "  cried  Ma- 
son. "  You  have  no  right  to  throw  up  your 
command  at  a  moment's  notice.  You  will 
suffer  for  this  — and  for  other  things.  I'll 
have  you  in  irons,  by  Heaven !  I'll  hang  you 
at  sunrise!  " 

Coffin  smiled  bitterly.  "  You  are  a  low, 
foul-mouthed  dog,"  he  said,  quietly.  "  You 
liave  an  amazing  fine  voice  and  a  red,  ugly 
face,  Ood  knows!— but  your  liver  is  white. 
You  would  hang  me,  would  you?     Let  me 


■$■ 


1 


i 


■I 


U  ' 


298  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 

hear  you  give  the  order  to  your  men  —  and 
see  what  happens." 

Mason  was  fairly  beside  himself  with  rage. 
He  saw  at  a  glance  that  it  would  be  madness 
to  order  the  handful  of  men  he  had  brought 
with  him  from  Guy's  to  arrest  the  offender; 
for  his  observant  eyes  had  seen,  from  the 
first,  that  this  sickly,  insolent  youth  was  a 
great  person  to  the  crews  of  both  ships  and 
to  the  survivors  of  the  colony. 

**  You  are  a  coward,"  he  cried.  "  You 
take  advantage  of  the  strength  of  your  fol- 
lowing to  insult  me." 


.  I 


If 

w 


t-'i 


11  !. 

:  i 


111 


I  It 
1  '  I 


m 


r*:  ! 


CHAPTER   XXI 

THE   DUEL   AT   DAWN 

This  charge  seemed  to  pain  Harold  Coffin 
acutely.  "  I  hope  you  do  not  think  so  poorly 
of  me,"  he  said. 

«*  Not  more  poorly  of  you  than  of  any 
other  damn  traitor  and  rogue,"  retorted 
Mason,  quickly. 

*'  I  am  sorry  that  you  think  I  defy  and 
insult  you  because  I  am  surrounded  by  my 
friends,"  continued  the  other.  "It  is  not 
so,  I  assure  you,  Captain  Mason.  I  am 
neither  a  coward  nor  a  bully.  I  have  a  sword 
here  —  or  a  pistol,  if  you  like  —  and  I  look 
no  farther  for  assistance.  If  I  have  insulted 
you,  it  has  been  but  in  return  for  your  own 
insulting  words  and  attitude  toward  the  dead 
man,  his  daughter,  myself  and  my  friends." 

"  Do  you  mean  that  you  want  to  fight 
me!"  sneered  Mason.  "You  rogue!  do 
you  expect  to  be  treated  like  a  gentleman?  It 

299 


tS 


^1 


'■'i 


m 


iK^ 


IjI  I 


1 

4 

f 


!;: 


M|:l|il 


Ji.    1      i 


300 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


would  be  less  than  you  deserve  if  I  drew  my 
pistol  now  and  shot  you  through  your  black 
heart.  And  even  if  you  were  an  honest  man 
I  could  not  meet  you.  I  do  not  match  my- 
self against  either  cripples  or  children." 

A  low  sigh  escaped  the  little  group  of  spec- 
tators at  these  flaying  words.  Harold  Coffin 
stepped  forward  and  struck  the  governor  of 
Guy's  Colony  across  the  face  with  his  open 
hand. 

The  others  sprang  between  them.  **  Not 
now!  Not  here!  "  exclaimed  Master  Down. 
**  This  affair  must  go  through  decently  and 
in  order.    The  light  is  failing  now." 

**  Then  let  it  be  soor,"  snarled  Mason. 
"  If  I  must,  I'll  do  it;  though  'twill  take 
years  for  the  filth  to  wear  from  my  hands." 

Harold  Coffin  slept  soundly  that  night. 
His  mind  was  at  rest,  for  he  had  come  to 
decisions  on  several  questions  that  had  been 
troubling  him  of  late.  After  the  scene  with 
Mason  he  and  Percy  had  spent  an  hour  to- 
gether in  confidential  talk.  lie  had  heard  of 
his  friend's  happiness  without  surprise  and 
without  a  sign  of  any  other  emotion  than 


The  Duel  at  Dawn 


301 


sympathy.    He  was  capable  of  fortitude  in 
distress  of  spirit  as  'veil  as  of  body.    That 
dream  could  never  have  been  for  him  —  so 
he  let  it  go.    lie  believed  in  Percy's  goodness 
of  heart  and  manliness;    and  so,  after  put- 
ting a  few  shrewd  questions  as  to  his  inten- 
tions concerning  the  future  and   receiving 
satisfactory  replies  to  the  same,  he  felt  that 
the  girl  was  in  safe  hands.     And  he  had 
heard  of  the  chance  to  join  the  "  Jaguar  " 
as  her  commander  on  her  last  risky  cruise; 
and  that  had  moved  him  deeply  and  happily 
and  filled  him  with  a  tender  affection  for  his 
fellow-men.     Also,  he  had  heard  the  plans 
for  the  morning,  and  had  agreed  to  them  as 
heartily  as  if  thoy  had  concerned  sometli.ng 
as  pleasant  and  as  unimportant  as  a  break- 
fast party.    Then  and  there  he  had  decided 
on  his  course  of  action  with  both  Mason  and 
MacAllister;    but  he  hoped   that   the   Scot 
would  change  his  mind  about  the  affair  at 
the  last  moment.     Since  he  had   seen  the 
swaggerer  suffering  from  remorse  his  feel- 
ings toward  him  had  altered  materially. 
It  is  a  fine  and  restful  thing  to  make  up 


I 


it 
■I  ,- 

•  iji 


i 


J' 
I' 


fl 


I  Hi' 


,1  • 


•Ni  ■ 


Ilk 


i' 


ijj  ill 


30«  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


one's  mind.  Feeling  that  he  had  uot'iing  to 
worry  over  for  the  next  few  hours  at  least, 
Harold  Coffin  slept  the  sleep  of  the  unhar- 
assed  until,  at  a  dismal  time  before  dawn, 
de  Verney  entered  his  berth  with  a  lighted 
candle. 

"  Time  to  be  stirring,  comrade,"  said  de 
Verney,  gently. 

Harold  smiled,  yawned  and  climbed  out  of 
his  bunk.  His  colorless  eyes  were  very  mild 
after  his  sleep;  his  dull,  yellowish  hair 
(which  had  been  cut  raggedly  by  his  servant 
so  that  certain  wounds  might  be  the  more 
easily  plastered)  stood  untidily  on  end.  Be- 
neath his  short  night-shirt  showed  legs  that 
looked  like  nothing  but  two  bones,  and 
draped  in  that  tl  in  garment  his  frame  ap- 
peared more  frail  than  ever. 

De  Verney  gazed  at  the  pitiful  figure  of 
his  principal  in  wonder.  He  could  scarcely 
believe  that  this  poor,  pale,  childish  looking 
person  was  that  formidable  sworder  and  pis- 
toler,  Harold  Coffin. 

"I'll  be  ready  in  two  shakes,"  said  Coffin. 

**  You  must  have  something  to  eat." 


The  Duel  at  Dawn 


303 


:»■ 


•♦  No,  I'll  breakfast  afterwards.  I'll  just 
splash  a  can  of  salt  water  over  myself,  to 
tone  my  muscles,  and  swallow  a  nip  of 
French  brandy,  to  tone  ray  stomach." 

De  Verney  went  away  for  the  brandy, 
taking  the  candle  with  him;  and  when  he 
returned  he  found  the  warrior  half-dressed 
and  the  deck  and  bunk  bedewed  with  brine. 

"  There  is  nothing  like  salt  water  to 
freshen  one  for  work,"  remarked  Coffin, 
pleasantly.  He  swallowed  the  brandy  in  two 
gulps.  **  Mason  named  cutlasses,  I  believe," 
he  said. 

The  other  nodded  mournfully.  "  That  is 
the  devil  of  it,"  he  said.  "  Weight  counts 
tor  so  much  with  cutlasses.  One  might  as 
well  fight  with  clubs.  No  chance  for  skill. 
Just  swing  and  hammer." 

**  I  think  you  are  wrong  there,"  replied 
Coffin.  "  You  have  made  the  rapier  your 
weapon,  and  having  mastered  it,  despise  all 
others.  It  is  the  finest  in  the  world,  beyond 
a  doubt,  and  the  gentleman's  iron.  But  I 
discovered,  a  few  years  back,  that  in  soldier- 
ing one  canuot  always  select  the  weapon  by 


J,  I 


111 


■■ 


m ;: 


m;! 


f  I  i) 


804  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


which  he  is  to  be  attacked.  So  I  made  a 
study  of  all  manner  of  tools  —  of  half -pikes, 
sabres,  cutlasses  and  even  of  clubs.  If  1  hud 
not,  my  worthless  bones  would  have  been 
coral  or  dust  long  before  this.  And  it  is 
wonderful  what  you  can  do  with  a  cutlass 
if  you  put  your  mind  honestly  to  it." 

By  this  time  his  toilet  was  completed.  He 
flung  a  cloak  around  him,  and  the  two  went 
noiselessly  out  of  the  berth,  out  of  the  cabin 
and  across  the  deck  to  the  shoreward  rail. 
Dawn  was  breaking  along  the  eastward  sea, 
clear  as  glass  and  bright  as  white  flame. 

**  It  promises  for  a  beautiful  day,"  re- 
marked Coffin. 

A  little  skiff  lay  ready  under  the  ship's 
side.  They  lowered  themselves  into  it.  De 
Verney  took  the  oars  and  pulled  quietly  for 
shore.  In  the  fresh  and  growing  light  they 
saw  two  other  skiffs  close  ahead  of  them. 
In  one  sat  Captain  Mason  and  Benjamin 
Spike,  and  in  the  other  Percy  and  MacAllis- 
ter. 

The  instant  Coffin  set  foot  on  the  beach, 
Spike  stepped  over  to  him.    "  My  heart  is 


The  Duel  at  Dawn 


305 


with  ye,  lad,  though  I've  been  chosen  to  back 
t'other  one,"  he  muttered.  Then  he  returned 
to  his  principal  and  led  the  way  up  the  path, 
i'ercy  lagged  behind  and  pressed  Coffin's 
hand  without  a  word. 

They  reached  the  place  of  the  broken  plan- 
tation, crossed  it  and  headed  toward  the 
woods  of  dark  firs  beside  the  little  river. 
At  the  edge  of  the  trees  MacAllister  turned 
and  waited  for  Coffin.  "  I  want  to  tell  you," 
he  said,  **  that  I  think  better  of  you  than  I 
did.  And  I  have  learned  to  agree  with  you 
in  some  of  your  views  —  concerning  loyalty, 
for  instance.  I  hope  you  will  manage  Mason 
without  suffering  yourself." 

**  Shake  hands,"  said  Coffin. 

**  No  —  I  can't  take  your  hand  yet,"  re- 
turned the  Scot,  awkwardly.  "  I  must  figlit 
you,  you  know  —  this  very  morning,  if  you 
feel  fit  for  it.  I  must  do  it;  but  the  sooner 
it  is  over  with  the  better  I'll  be  pleased. 
Then  I'll  shake  hands  with  you  gladly  —  if 
I  am  able  to.  And  mind  you,  I  don't  thirst 
for  your  blood  —  as  I  once  did.  But  I  have 
my  pride." 


•' 


11 


Mi 


p^i-j 


NM: 


!l   1 


306 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


.  I 


In  a  small,  level  clearing  beside  the  brown 
river,  between  the  slobbering  water  and  the 
silent  wood,   the  gentleme     took  up  their 
positions.    A  T.hite  mist  stUl  drifted  on  the 
stream;    but  the  light  from  the  east  came 
clearly  in  to  the  meadow.     Mason  laid  off 
both  his  cloak  and  doublet,  folded  them  with 
care  and  placed  his  hat  on  top  of  them. 
Spike  took  them  from  his  hands,  carried 
them  back  a  dozen  paces  and  laid  them  on 
the  ground.    Coffin  shook  his  cloak  from  his 
shoulders  and  flung  it  into  a  bush.     Percy 
produced  four  cutlasses  and  arranged  them 
in  a  row  on  the  wet  sward. 

**  I  want  to  use  my  own  iron,"  said  Cap- 
tain Mason,  speaking  for  the  first  time  since 
coming  ashore. 

"  That  is  not  in  order,"  replied  de  Ver- 
ney.    "  'Tis  flat  against  the  rules." 

''  Let  him  use  it,"  said  Coffin.     ''He  is 
partial  to  the  feel  of  it,  no  doubt.    And  I, 
too,  have  a  favor  to  ask." 
**  Name  it,"  snapped  Mason. 
"  May  I  kick  off  my  boots?  "  asked  the 
other. 


,i  fi  !■ 


The  Duel  at  Dawn 


307 


The  governor  of  Guy's  laughed  harshly. 
**  Kick  them  off,  by  all  means,  if  you  have 
any  objections  to  dying  with  them  on." 

**  Thank  you,  I  have,"  returned  Coffin, 
with  a  flitting  smile.  He  pulled  his  great 
boots  from  his  stockinged  feet  and  tossed 
them  after  his  cloak.  Then  he  went  over  to 
the  cutlasses,  drew  one  from  its  scabbard, 
balanced  it  in  his  hand,  struck  the  flat  and 
then  the  back  of  it  against  a  tree  and  re- 
turned with  it  to  his  place. 

De  Verney  and  Spike,  without  removing 
their  cloaks,  drew  their  weapons  and  each 
took  post  abreast  and  five  paces  to  the  left 
of  his  principal.  Mason  and  Coffin  faced 
each  other,  extend-  their  right  arms  and 
crossed  their  short,  heavy  blades.  So  they 
stood  for  a  few  seconds,  eye  to  eye,  steady 
as  rock. 

**  Are  you  ready,  gentlemen?  "  inquired 
de  Verney 's  voice,  clear  as  a  bell.  **  Then 
on  the  word  three,  fall  to.  One  —  two  — 
three." 

Action  began  on  the  instant.  The  robust 
governor's  blade  pressed  the  other  aside. 


iy& 


mm 


i 

••I 


h 


1;  * 

•11: 

I 

■   (    . 

(I 
J 


i'lll 


308 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


struck  it  a  hammering  blow  near  the  hilt, 
and  circled  like  a  wheel  of  white  fire,  direct 
for  Coffin's  pale  and  untidy  head.  But  it 
found  nothing  — not  even  the  guard  of 
steel;  and  quick  as  the  fang  of  an  adder  was 
the  retort.  Mason  spun  on  his  heel,  his  left 
arm  across  his  body,  his  right,  still  gripping 
the  cutlass,  hanging  limp.  Ilis  left  hand 
"lutched  his  right  shoulder,  and  already  the 
blood  was  crawling  between  his  fingers.  The 
coarse  color  was  fled  from  his  face  and  his 
hard  eyes  wore  an  expression  of  outraged 
astonishment. 

"  I  think  you  will  find  that  you  cannot 
raise  your  arm,"  said  Harold  Coffin,  with  a 
little  bow. 

"  You  damned  imp!  Curse  you  and  your 
tricks!  "  muttered  Mason. 

Coffin  turned  to  :\raster  Spike.  "  I  am 
satisfied,"  he  snid;  *' though  some  people 
can't  learn  civility  without  being  killed.  But 
my  honor  is  satisfied.  You  had  better  tie 
him  up,  Ben." 

For  a  wild  luilf-minute  Mason  entertained 
the  idea  of  continuing  the  engagement  with 


The  Duel  at  Dawn 


309 


his  left  hand;  but  a  saving  thought  of  Mis- 
tress Mason,  his  children  and  other  pleasant, 
worldly  things  came  to  bis  mind. 

CoflBn  walked  over  to  where  the  cutlasses 
lay  and  was  about  to  throw  his  own  stained 
weapon  on  the  ground  when  MacAllister 
stopped  him  with  a  gesture. 

"  That  was  splendid,"  said  the  Scot,  husk- 
ily. '  *  I  never  saw  such  neat  work  —  nor 
such  merciful  work.  But  now  —  if  you  are 
not  tired  — will  you  oblige  me?  " 

Coffin  gazed  at  him  intently.  "  Why  do 
you  want  to  fight  with  me?  "  he  asked. 

'*  I  have  to  —  to  clear  my  conscience,"  re- 
plied the  Scot.  *'  I  have  thought  all  manner 
of  unpardonable  things  of  you.  I  must  fight 
you.    My  self-respect  demands  it." 

*'  I  take  it  that  you  do  not  want  to  kill 
me,"  said  Coffin. 

"  Kill  you!  "  exclaimed  the  other.  "I'd 
rather  die  myself,  than  that.  You  do  not 
understand.  I  feel  that  T  must  give  you  sat- 
isfaction, whether  you  want  it  or  not.  I  owe 
it  to  you,  Coffin.  But  this  is  not  the  way  T 
felt  at  first." 


■■•-♦ 


ih 


'Bi 


i     t 


m 


Ik 


r    a,    ft" 


^1';: 


1  t''t' 


i*:i 


M 


n  i 


r  ^! 

^M  »|j  i| 

■i\  : 

<>  ■ 

1 1  •  : 

. ,, , 

i  Jam^ 

310  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


"  Well,"  replied  Coffin,  ''  this  is  an  un- 
common affair  and  I  am  at  a  loss  to  see  it 
clearly  —  to  catch  the  right  and  the  wrong 
in  it.  But  if  you  honestly  feel  that  you  want 
to  cross  blades  with  me,  I  am  at  your  serv- 
ice. But  I  must  tell  you  frankly  that  I  have 
nothing  against  you  and  therefore  do  not 
intend  to  injure  you." 

The  Scot  looked  puzzled  and  uncomfort- 
able. "  You  must  nick  me,  at  least,"  he 
cried. 

Coffin  smiled.  *'  I  believe  I  understand 
you,"  he  said.  *'  You  feel  that  you  have 
treated  me  unjustly  in  your  thoughts  —  and 
you  want  to  right  yourself  with  me.  Then 
let  us  get  to  work,  my  friend,  with  the  under- 
standing that  first  blood  settles  this  matter 
forever." 


CHAPTER  XXII 


A   TASTE   OF    GLOEY 


The  passage  at  arms  between  Coffin  and 
MacAllister  was  viewed  with  some  wonder 
and  a  good  deal  of  amusement  by  Percy  and 
de  Verney.  They  had  heard  the  argument, 
and  could  see  that  the  enmity  between  these 
two  was  already  dead ;  but  they  thought  that 
the  Scot  was  making  a  fool  of  himself  in 
insisting  on  even  so  mild  an  encounter  as 
one  that  called  for  peace  at  the  first  sign  of 
blood.  MacAllister 's  face  was  very  solemn, 
however,  and  Coffin's  was  at  least  serious, 
when  the  two  crossed  swords. 

The  cutlasses  had  been  discarded  for  ra- 
piers. It  was  the  Scot's  intention,  at  first, 
to  allow  his  opponent's  point  to  touch  him, 
without  loss  of  time ;  but  as  soon  as  the  steel 
began  to  flash  before  him,  pressing,  darting, 
twisting,  threatening  here  and  there,  he  for- 
got his  commendable  intention  and  set  him- 
self to  guard,  parry  and  return  with  des- 

su 


I 


hi  I 

11; 


I; 


m*\ 


■fit 'I 

i 


i 


Jh-^; 


]'■ 


I 


Ml! 


312 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


perute  energy.  He  became  excited,  and  was 
soon  working  away  as  if  he  meant  to  run 
Coffin  through  the  body. 

Coffin  phiyed  calmly  and  beautifully,  keep- 
ing up  a  masterly  appearance  of  attack  but 
often  turning  his  point  aside  h'mself  when 
the  other's  guard  was  not  there  to  meet  it. 
When  he  saw  the  danger  signals  flashing  in 
jMacAllister's  eyes  he  decided  to  prick  his 
arm  immediately  and  so  end  the  affair;  but 
at  that  moment  all  his  skill  was  called  for 
to  turn  aside  a  thrust  that  would  have  spit- 
ted him  like  a  lark  —  and  he  managed  to 
twist  it  away  by  only  a  slender  fraction  of 
an  inch.  That  thrust  changed  his  plans. 
He  saw  that  the  Scot's  wild  temper  was  up 
and  that  the  game  was  becoming  far  too 
dangerous  for  both  of  them.  So  he  attacked 
briskly,  wit  i  no  more  meaningless  display, 
closing  inch  by  inch.  MacAllister  came  to  a 
standstill ;  then  he  began  to  give  ground. 
xAt  last  Coffin  felt  the  other's  blade  where 
he  wanted  it  —  and,  in  an  instant,  MacAllis- 
ter stood  onipty-handed  and  his  weapon 
hopi)ed  on  the  grass  five  paces  away. 


i 


)i   ' 


A  Taste  of  Glory 


813 


For  a  moment  or  two  MacAllister's  face 
was  a  crimson  mask  of  rage  and  chagrin; 
then  his  good  sense  got  the  better  of  his 
temper.  He  laughed  with  a  somewhat  pain- 
ful note.  "  That  is  done,"  said  he  —  *'  and 
well  done,  thank  Ck)d!  I  have  had  my  fight 
and  am  still  alive.  My  conscience  in  this 
matter  is  cleared,  my  honor  is  satisfied  — 
and  my  foolish  vanity  is  pricked  and  ex- 
ploded." 

"  And  now  I  hope  I  may  consider  you  as 
a  friend,"  said  Coffin. 

"  If  you  will,"  replied  the  Scot.  *'  And 
I  trust,"  he  added,  '*  that  I  shall  prove  a 
more  efficient  friend  than  I  have  an  enemy." 

They  shook  hands,  eyed  each  other  inquir- 
ingly, and  smiled. 

*'  That  was  as  good  as  a  play,"  said  de 
Verney  —  *  *  and  acted  with  quite  a  touch  of 
reality,  too." 

The  four  friends  left  the  narrow  meadow 
and  returned  to  the  beach  by  the  way  they 
had  come.  Sky,  sea  and  shore  were  now 
flooded  with  sunshine. 

"  We  must  go  aboard  the  *  Jaguar.'    An 


If 


P' 


u  i 


314  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


(:.^ 

r  -   .J 

|.     :f! 

.     1    • 

J 

1^ 

1    - 

\:J 

1   t  . 

ii^      ■ 

i 

.     r, 

I 

■ 

r     I 

i 

.'    ! 

.1    ' 

important  question  is  awaiting  our  consid- 
eration there,"  said  Percy. 

As  tlie  two  skiffs  passed  under  tlie  "  Good 
Fortune's  "  stern,  a  familiar  voice  hailed 
them  in  guarded  tones.  There  was  old  Ben- 
jamin Spike  leaning  far  over  the  taffrail. 

"  The  guvnor  has  cut  up  tremendous,"  he 
informed  them,  in  a  gusty  whisper  that  car- 
ried like  tlie  wail  of  a  defective  fog-horn. 
"  He  be  clearin'  for  Guy's  inside  the  hour; 
but  he'll  be  back  bright  an'  early  to-morrow, 
I  take  it,  with  his  whole  outfit.  He  com- 
menced the  hangin'  talk  again  — an',  'pon 
my  soul,  I  don't  be  a-feelin'  any  too  safe 
about  my  own  neck.  An'  he  lays  to  treasure 
up  the  lady  for  Sir  Stephen  Morris  if  it 
busts  him  to  do  it." 

"  I  think  it  will  bust  him,"  murmured  de 
Verney. 

"  Wliere  is  he  now?  "  asked  Percy. 

"  Aboard  one  o'  his  own  craft  yonder, 
gettin'  ready  to  haul  out.  But  he'll  be  back 
to-morrow,  sir,  so  he  says,  to  get  the  young 
lady  and  to  hang  you  an'  Master  CoflSn  an* 
clap  the  rest  o'  us  in  irons." 


A  Taste  of  Glory 


315 


Coffin  laughed.  "  We  promise  not  to  let 
him  hurt  you,  Ben,"  he  called.  Then  the 
skiffs  passed  on  to  the  "  Jaguar." 

Master  Down  met  them  as  they  stepped 
to  the  deck,  and  on  hearing  a  word  or  two 
of  what  had  transpired  ashore  he  swore 
shockingly  at  the  world  in  general  and  at 
de  Verney  in  particular.  '*  Why  the  devil 
didn't  you  take  me  along  with  you  to  see  the 
fun?  "  he  asked. 

'*  Don't  pay  any  attention  to  him,"  said 
de  Verney  to  the  others.  "  I  vent  to  him 
this  morning,  in  the  kindness  of  my  heart, 
and  tried  to  get  him  out  of  his  bunk;  but 
it  was  of  no  more  use  than  trying  to  arouse 
the  dead  to  see  a  bit  of  sport.  He  is  a  dull 
and  unambitious  lad  at  that  hour.' 

"  You  should  have  dragged  me  out,"  com- 
plained the  other.  "I'd  willingly  have  sac- 
rificed a  few  hours  of  my  beauty  sleep  to  see 
that  flint-eyed  old  cock  John  Mason  get  his 
comb  nicked." 

"  You  missed  more  than  that,"  replied  de 
Verney,  unfeelingly.  "  To  wind  up  the  en- 
tertainment,  these   two   gentlemen   had   an 


s  H 


)'  I 


hi 


If 


l£'   I 


^ 


I  ;  I 


-i\    M 


316  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


exhibition  bout."     He  indicated  Coffin  and 
MacAllister  with  a  wave  of  the  hand. 

MacAllister  flushed  and  g-azed  down  at  the 
deck. 

**  Where  is  Percy?  "  asked  Coffin. 

"Ah,  he  has  slipped  away!"  exclaimed 
de  Vemey.  '*  He  has  gone  to  the  cabin,  of 
course  — and  I  don't  blame  him.  Let  us 
have  breakfast  in  the  round-house  while  he 
is  saying  '  good  morning; »  and  then  we  can 
mrster  all  hands  forward  and  get  to  busi- 


»» 


ness. 

Coffin  glanced  at  the  Scot's  face  — then 
drew  him  aside. 

'*  John  Percy  is  one  of  the  best  fellows 
in  the  world,"  he  whispered.  "  He  has  a 
property  down  in  the  West  Indies  — and 
this  very  morning  he  is  going  to  resign  his 
command  of  the  *  Jaguar.'  I  believe  they 
intend  to  offer  the  post  to  me  —  and  if  so, 
I'll  accept  it.  Now  be  brave,  my  friend! 
The  lady  whom  you  love  —  and  whom  I  love 
—  loves  our  good  friend  Percy.  She  has 
promised  to  marry  him.  Remember  your 
pride     and    your    courage,    Donald,     and 


A  Taste  of  Glory 


S17 


don't  try  to  upset  what  the  gods  have  or- 
dained." 

MacAllister  looked  at  him  bravely;  but 
with  a  face  still  and  lightless  as  carven  wood. 
'*  I  knew  there  was  no  hope  for  me,"  he 
replied.  "  I  deserve  no  such  blessing.  I 
remember  my  pride  —  and  there  is  no  anger 
in  me.  But  they  are  staring  at  us  —  and 
they  must  not  see  our  hurts." 

Coffin  pressed  his  new  friend's  hand. 
**  You  n "^t  stand  by  me,"  he  said,  loudly. 
"  With  i^.,  I  ompany  after  us,  we  had  better 
hold  together.    Now  let's  to  breakfast." 

As  they  entered  the  round-house,  MacAl- 
lister gripped  Harold 's  arm.  ' '  If  you  mean 
that,"  said  he,  "  I  am  with  you." 

Food  and  drink  were  brought  to  the  gen- 
tlemen in  the  round-house.  Master  Down, 
having  already  broken  his  fast,  applied  him- 
self to  the  full-bodied  ale.  He  said  that  he 
was  very  low  in  spirit  at  havi  . .,  missed  the 
morning's  entertainment.  De  Verney  talked 
cheerily.  Any  form  of  excitement,  so  long 
as  it  was  not  especially  dangerous  to  him- 
self, lightened  his  heart  and  mind  like  a  tonic 


y 
i 


i\ 


t4'  xa  '7M79M.aKjMr.aiC4 1 


if  i 


nU 


i : 


,'l! 


m  ii 


]i 


818  A  Captain  of  Raleigh^s 

draught.    He  was  neither  a  coward  nor  a 
weakling,  and  would  face  death  or  the  chance 
of  it  as  readUy  as  most  adventures;  but  he 
was  not  a  fire-eater  and  scorner  of  odds  like 
Harold  Coffin.    Coffin  was  hungry  after  his 
early  exertions  and  applied  himself  to  the 
business  in  hand  with  a  will.    Poor  Donald 
MacAllister,  however,  could  make  but  a  pre- 
tense of  eating  and  drinking.    Compared  to 
the  frail  Devonshire  man,  he  was  unseasoned 
against  shocks.    Smitten  in  spirit,  stripped 
naked  of  the  old  vanity  that  had  for  so  long 
been  as  a  comfortable  cloak  to  his  soul,  with 
faith  in  his  old  masters  crumbled  about  him 
and  his  feet  on  the  verge  of  a  new  and 
strange  career,  he  sat  silent  and  unheeding 
at  the  little  table. 

Presently  Percy  entered,  bright  of  eye, 
glorious  of  face.  As  if  afraid  to  give  any 
of  his  friends  a  chance  to  speak  — for  he 
dreaded  that  some  merry  and  harmless  re- 
mark of  de  Vemey's  might  fall  in  the  little 
room  like  a  lighted  match  in  a  powder  keg 
—  he  immediately  began  to  talk  himself. 
"  It  is  time,  now,  for  me  to  publicly  resign 


A  Taste  of  Glory 


319 


my  charge  of  this  ship  in  the  hearing  of  the 
lads  forward,"  he  said.     *'  And  if  you  two 

—  Down  and  de  Verney  —  want  Coffin  to 
take  my  place,  then  I  can  make  the  sugges- 
tion to  them.  The  sooner  we  have  this  mat- 
ter settled,  the  better." 

*'  Yes.  We  must  know  how  we  stand,  and 
who  is  who,  before  Mason  gets  back  with 
reinforcements,"  replied  de  Verney. 

Down  turned  to  Coffin.  "  Is  this  true?  " 
he  asked.  **  Do  you  really  mean  to  join  us 
for  a  rash  and  merry  flutter!  " 

Coffin  nodded.  **  If  you  have  no  objec- 
tions," he  said. 

**  You  will  be  the  saving  of  us,"  returned 
Down.  **  I  only  hope  you  may  not  be  won 
away  from  us,  before  the  voyage  is  over,  as 

—  as  has  happened  before  with  equally  val- 
orous commanders.  Desertion  of  one's  ship 
and  shipmates  is  supposed  to  be  a  disgrace- 
ful thing;  but  when  it  is  done  in  the  name 
of  love  it  seems  to  be  looked  upon  as  a 
creditable  performance." 

Coffin  looked  at  the  other  with  an  innocent 
and  somewhat  puzzled  smile.    He  was  quite 


I 


i- 


n'  1 


Iw 


■;  f 


'M^r 


I  "^' 


1 ) 


320 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


aware  that  Down  was  trying  to  be  humorous 
at  Percy's  expense;  but  humor  of  this  kind, 
heavily  and  painfully  manufactured,  did  not 
amuse  him.  "  I  did  not  desert  my  command 
of  the  '  Good  Fortune  '  for  love,"  he  said, 
**  but  to  get  clear  of  Captain  Mason." 

"  Of  course.  Of  course,"  replied  Master 
Down,  considerably  flustered.  ''Nothing 
but  a  fighting-machine,  after  all,"  he  re- 
flected, *'  and  even  duller  than  I  expected." 
De  Verney  was  not  so  dull,  however.  He 
winked  at  Coffin.  "  Poor  Horace,"  he  said. 
"  His  nurse  let  him  fall  when  he  was  a  baby 
and  he  struck  the  ground  with  the  top  of  his 
head." 

MacAllister,  who  had  been  sitting  all  this 
time  with  his  glance  on  the  table,  in  a  grim 
silence,  suddenly  raised  his  head.  "  I  want 
to  join  you,  too,"  he  said.  "  I  am  not  of 
much  use,  as  you  know  -but  T  ar  -ng 

to  learn.    I  want  to  stake  what  T  ha  the 

'  Jaguar  '  and  share  the  risks  of  this  .  ruxse." 

"  You  I    An  outlaw?  "  exclaimed  de  Ver- 
ney. 

"  Why  not?    It  seems  as  honest  an  occu- 


A  Taste  of  Glory 


S21 


pation  as  any  other  —  the  way  you  gentle- 
men practise  it,"  replied  the  Soot. 

"It  is  risky,"  cautioned  Down.  "  In 
spite  of  our  honesty,  every  hand  is  against 
us.  No  matter  how  honorably  we  may  give 
battle,  defeat  and  capture  means  that  we  all 
hang  by  the  neck  like  common  pirates." 

But  Donald  MacAllister's  mind  was  made 
up.    He  was  determined  to  forget  the  heart- 
ache and  humilities  that  had  come  upon  him 
so  recently  am   suddenly  in  a  desperate  voy- 
age with  these  brave  comrades.    The  treat- 
ment which  he  had  received  at  the  hards  of 
Captain   Mason  had  effectively   driven  all 
feelings  of  loyalty  toward  the  great  Com- 
pany  out  of  his  heart.     He  would  mix  in 
dangers  and  rare  adventures,  and  forget  his 
sorrow  and  shame,  and  learn  to  fight  —  even 
at  the  risk  of  that  dishonorable  death  of 
hanging  by  the  neck.    And  so  it  was  settled. 
The  gentlemen  left  the  round-house,  and 
the  entire  ship's  company  was  paraded  on 
the  main  deck;   for  the  "  Jaguar's  "  disci- 
pline had  always  been,  and  still  was,  that  of 
a  ship  of  war  — with  the  exception  of  the 


d 


i  II 


J  ■ 

i 


{' 


I! 


i 

i 


IftA 


-.» 


'•fli^l 


322 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


severe  treatment  that  was  common  on  the 
king's  «l,ips.  Percy  addressed  the  men 
brielJy  but  feelingly;  and  thougii  the  rumor 
that  he  intended  to  resign  his  command  had 
already  gone  the  rounds  of  the  "  Jaguar  " 
the  n.en  expressed  the  sense  of  their  loss 
with  sincerity  and  a  deal  of  clamor. 

"  We  knows  why  yer  honor  be  a-leavin' 
of  us,"  remarked  a  gunner,  archly;  and  at 
that  laughter  rnd  shouting  went  up,  and 
good  wishes  were  bawled,  and  caps  were 
tossed  high.  It  would  have  been  madness  to 
expect  any  observance  of  discipline  now. 
De  Verney  ran  forward,  hat  in  hand. 

"Now,  my  lads,  three  cheers  for  the 
l.''dy,"  he  cried.  -All  together,  as  if  you 
were  gomg  over  the  side  of  a  Spaniard." 

The  cheers  were  given  with  a  will  The 
men  of  the  -  Good  Fortune  "  crowded  to  the 
senward  rail  of  that  battered  vessel  and 
shouted  across  the  water  to  know  what  the 
celebration  was  about.  Catching  a  hint  of 
the  truth,  they  too  began  to  cheer.  Now 
Percy's  name  was  yelled,  and  cheered  to  the 
echo  aboard  both  vessels.     Sailors  are  like 


^^^^^     A  Taste  of  Glory 


323 


children,  ready  to  shout  and  skip  and  toss 
up  their  head-gear  at  the  slightest  provoca- 
tion and  the  shortest  notice.  Keen  to  cele- 
brate and  keen  to  fight  were  these  merry 
lads. 

Percy  roared  at  them,  trying  to  get  along 
with  what  he  had  to  say;    but  he  might  as 
well  have  saved  his  wind.    Then  de  Verney 
rushed  back  to  his  friends,  seized  Coffin  by 
the  arm  and  dragged  him  forward  among 
tlie    surging,    bawling    lads.      *'  Listen    to 
me!  "  he  yelled,  drawing  their  attention  by 
pushing  them  to  right  and  left  and  knocking 
them  about.    '*  Listen  to  me,  you  mad  lub- 
bers!    Here's  Master  Coffin -who  tanned 
the  hides  of  the  fishermen  —  who  beat  them 
one  to  four  — who  nicked  old  Mason.    He'll 
take  command,  I  tell  you!    He  is  ready  to 
help  hunt  the  Spaniards.     Listen   to   me! 
Here's  Master  Coffin  — who  chased  the  lug- 
ger  in    a    skiflF.      C      ^ain    Coffin  — of   the 
*  Jaguar.*  " 

The  lads  whom  de  Verney  was  knookiug 
about  caught  some  of  the  words  and  all  tlie 
meaning.      "Coffin!     Cap'n    Coffin,"    they 


/  !^ 


:   u    i 


I      f 


f  t^ 


••U: 


i 


J 


v\ 


324 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


»> 


shouted.  -  He'll  command  us.  He  eats 
Spaniards.  Up  witb  Master  Death  an' 
Olory!  Up  with  little  blood  an'  bones! 
Cap  'n  Coffin  -  o '  the  good  ship  '  Jaguar  I  ' 

The  whole  crew  began  to  shout  his  name 
Up  he  went,  held  high  and  lovingly  by  giant 
hands.     Others  hoisted  de  Verney.     Those 
who  could   not   reach  either  of  these  two 
heroes  rushed  at  Percy,  Down  and  MacAl- 
Iister  and  swung  them  to  the  same  glorious 
position  above  the  bobbing  heads  and  bel- 
lowing lips.     The  rollicking  fellows  began 
marching,  each  group  proclaiming  the  vir- 
tues of  the  gentleman  it  carried.    «*  Master 
Down.    Here  be  Master  Down.    Often  Down 
but   never   beat."     'MVTio   nicked    Guvnor 
Masonf"    "  Cap 'n  Percy !  he  give  the  king 
hisself  a  belly-ache."    -  Way  for  de  Verney 
the  terrier  for  Spanish  rats!"     "Master 
Scotchman !     Ho  for  the  MacAllister  -  the 
lad  who  don't  know  when  he's  beat." 

The  gentlemen  grinned  and  hoped  that 
their  admirers  would  not  drop  them  and 
break  their  necks.  As  for  Donald  MacAl- 
lister -  he  wanted  to  embrace  the  lads  who 


A  Taste  of  Glory 


325 


held  him  high  in  that  place  of  glory.  They 
might  have  left  him  standing  there,  alone. 
But  no,  even  in  him  they  could  see  something 
to  honor  — and  here  he  was,  bruised  and 
breathless,  supported  by  hands  like  knobs  of 
wood  — one  of  the  five  heroes.  This  was 
glory.  Tears  dimmed  his  eyes.  **  God  bless 
you,  lads,"  he  shouted,  huskily. 


i 


•i 


CHAPTER  XXin 

ANOTHEB   CASE   OF    KIDNAPPING 

When  Coffin's  name  rang  across  the 
water,  the  lads  of  the  ''Good  Fortune" 
read  the  meaning  of  it.  Their  excitement 
grew.  Six  of  them  went  to  where  Benjamin 
Spike  stood  at  the  rail,  gazing  across  at  the 
**  Jaguar." 

"  Meanin'  no  disrespect  to  you,  sir,"  said 
one  of  the  men,  "an'  trustin'  not  to  leave 
ye  short-handed,  we  begs  ye  humbly  to  let  us 
join  the  '  Jaguar,'  along  with  Master  Coffin 
sir." 

Spike  turned  and  stared  at  them;  but  not 
unkindly.  -  Ye  be  simple  souls,  lad,  an'  no 
mistake,"  he  said.  -  I  be  in  command  o' 
this  here  ship  now,  since  Master  Coffin  has 
cut  the  Company's  service  — an'  here  ye 
come,  six  o'  ye  hand-in-hand,  an'  ax  me  to 
let  ye  desert  the  ship.  It  can't  be  done,  lads 
-  in  that  way.     'Tis  dead  against  a  com- 

820 


Another  Case  of  Kidnapping      327 


mander's  duty  to  owners  an'  ship  to  give 
leave  to  his  men  to  desert.    'Twould  cost  me 
my  job,  lads.    No!    Ye  cannot  follow  Master 
Coffin.    Ye  must  stay  with  me,  here  where  ye 
belong."      (He   said   this   in   a   voice   that 
reached   the   ears   of   every   man   aboard.) 
*'  But,"  he  added,  guardedly,  *'  if  the  six  o' 
ye  be  for  sailin'  with  Master  Coffin,  ye '11  find 
a  skiff  in  the  water,  on  t'other  side.     Ye'd 
best  go  quietly,  so  I  won't  see  ye." 

Thus  six  of  the  «'  Good  Fortune's  "  crew 
deserted  their  ship  and  threw  in  their  lots 
with  that  of  their  beloved  commander.  And 
old  Ben  Spike,  leaning  heavily  on  the  rail, 
was  blind  as  a  bat. 


IP 


At  last  the  tumult  subsided  and  the 
demonstrations  aboard  the  ''  Jaguar  "  were 
at  an  end.  Order  was  restored.  The  lads 
returned  to  their  posts,  taking  their  six  new 
messmates  along  with  them. 

Percy,  about  to  rap  on  the  cabin  door,  held 
his  hand,  turned  aside  and  went  up  the  star- 
board ladder  to  the  poop.  Captain  Mason's 
two  bullies  Iiad  left  their  berths.    He  looked 


i' 

■i 

r    ( 

328 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


seaward.    They  were  not  in  sight.    They  had 
cleared  the  mouth  of  the  harbor. 

"  I  sincerely  hope  that  Mason  will  not  be 
rash  enough  to  return,  before  we  get  away 
and  try  to  make  trouble/'  he  reflected! 
"  But  I  scarcely  think  his  men  could  be 
forced  to  attack  us,  even  if  he  should  be  such 
a  fool  as  to  bring  them  around.  Why 
'twould  be  like  brothers  at  each  other's' 
throats!  And  the  lads  of  the  '  Good  For- 
tune  '  would  give  him  no  help." 

He  went  down  the  ladder  and  knocked  on 
the  cabin  door.    There  was  no  answer.    He 
had  left  both  Elizabeth  and  her  attendant 
there,  not  much  more  than  an  hour  ago     He 
knocked  again,  louder.     Perha'>s  they  were 
asleep  in  their  berths.    He  thumped  the  oak 
with  the  butt  of  a  pistol.     Still  no  reply 
Then  he  laid  his  hand  on  the  knob  of  the 
door.     The  knob  turned;    but  the  door  re- 
niamed  firm.    Beyond  a  doubt,  it  was  bolted. 
His  heart  folt  as  if  it  were  shaking  in  his 
side.     The  door  fastened !    No  replv  to  his 
rappin^s!     What,  in  the  name  of  Heaven 
could  it  mean?    In  sudden  panic,  he  beat  on 


i  h 


Another  Case  of  Kidnapping      329 


the  senseless  oak  with  both  fists.  For  a 
second,  he  wondered  if  the  girl  herself  had 
fastened  the  door  against  him.  Could  it 
have  been  all  a  play?  Had  she  but  pre- 
tended to  love  him?  The  mad,  singeing  sus- 
picion flashed  away  as  swiftly  as  it  had  come 
to  him.  She  was  in  danger!  There  had  been 
some  treasonous  work! 

Coffin  and  de  Verney  had  been  watching 
him;    and  the  meaning  of  his  amazing  be- 
havior  had   suddenly  come  clear   to   them. 
"  Try  the  other  side  — the  larboard  gang- 
way," cried  de  Verney,  at  the  same  time 
making  for  the  spot   himself.     But    Percy 
readied  the  gang\v;iy  first.     The  others  fol- 
lowed.    Through   the  narrow  passage   and 
into  a   tiny  sail-room   broke  the  desperate 
lover,  with   his  friends  close  at   his  heels. 
From  the  sail-room,  by  a  narrow  door  in  the 
bulkhead,  he  p.-ssed  into  one  of  the  berths 
opening  upon  the  ca'  'n.     Through  that  he 
dashed  madly.    The  cabin  was  empty! 

He  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  wide,  dusky 
place,  staring  fearfully  around  him.  He  saw 
that  the  door  of  Elizabeth 's  berth  was  open. 


f      I 

If 
\ 

! 


330 


^Q  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


!■!•• 


lie  calkd  her  name  -  and  ao  answer  .ai,.e 
to  hiiu. 

••  Vou  must  look  into  1..,-  berth,"  s.ud 
Coffin. 

"I- I  cannot  do  r!  Ry  Ood,  I  can- 
not! "  replied  Per-v  in  a  «h.-.kin^  wuisper. 

De  Verney  lijid  licon  work.n-  swiftly  -  It 
Ks  empty,"  he  saiV  "All  rlie  1h  rths  re 
ei"  •ty;    an.l  the  uouian  is  i,^,,^    t    .      But 

tlie  ManMs  have  g.u.f,,„.i  his  bunk  -and 
;'ere  is  a  piece  of  ,-,  -pe,  uewly  cut  -  and  here 
IS  a  lady's  slipper." 

it  wa.  truo.    ().  the  deck,  at  the  do.      .,f 
her  berth,  la.    a  yard  of  b>M  rop.    an.    ,n 
he  locker  und..,.  the  sqn,    .  p,,  ,  ,,      ,„,  ^^ 
HT  narrow  . uppers.     And  the  sash    .t  th^ 
hig  port  hurt,--  wide  open. 

Percv  seenH.d  dazed.     He  f  ,„k  tl,^  .atin 
shoe  in  his  ha,  d  and  turned  it     .is  way  and 
tl'at     "  What  does  it  n.enn  ;  "    .  wf.isnerc a 
for  (;.)d's  sake,  tell  m     de  V     „,..,.»' 
"  The    other    is     now     ro  t 

1         XT  .1.  did 

de  V^ernev.     **  T  lisvo  1,        .  ] 

Coffin  was  sf,,n.Ii„g  a     ■!,„  1,,^,  „„•„„ 

half.way  o„t  „f  „,e  por       He  (,u.ed  his 


MH 


Another  Case  of  Kilnapping 


331 


he-<i.  '  Yes,  it  could  easily  be  done,"  he 
sai.l.  ♦♦  It  was  cl.er  — and  daring.  Mason 
if  a  hard  man  to  I    at." 

••  What  do  you  mean.'  "  asked  Percy.  His 
tnind  was    >emiinbod  with  apprehension. 

"  Thcv  ha\  0  been     .rried  away  —  again," 


S.' 


iid 


v's. 


•re 

I 


uj.  '«  This  time  by  the  governor  of 
Tt  must  nave  I  ippened  when  we 

•ward  with  the  h  is.  In  at  the  port, 
by     ae  port —hat's  how  it  was 


Well,  I'n    damned'  "  exclaimed  Percy; 
but  the  terror  had  g  me    ut  of  Iiis  eyes. 

"  Thank  God!  "  cried  de  Verney.  "  We'll 
soon  have  her  back." 

"  He  would  let  <  'he  boats  swing 

under  here,"  said  Cotli  itedly  working 

out  the  secret  of  Mason  ue.     "  They'd 

hold  her  close  in,  the  maj,t  not  quite  in  line 
with  the  port.  Then  a  couple  of  handv  lads 
would  crawl  up  the  stick,  get  their  fingers  on 
the  ledg-  here  — and  in  they'd  be  in  two 
winks.  Then  for  gags  and  b1  nket  and 
ropes,  and  a  trifle  of  hoisting  and  lowering 
away.    Then  the  buUy  would  drift  out  and 


1 


i     »^ 


■  I  ■'J 


m 


^. 


'1- 


l/-i| 


Ill  I 


332 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


join  the  other,  as  innocent-looking  as  you 
please,  and  off  theyM  go  for  the  mouth  of 
the  harbor.  And  there  we  were,  shouting 
and  bawling  on  the  deck,  and  thinking  what 
almighty  heroes  we  were.  How  that  hard- 
eyed  old  dog  must  have  laughed  at  us?  But 
now  we  will  give  him  another  tune  to  twist 
his  mouth  to." 

What   Governor   Mason   could   have   ex- 
pected to  gain  by  this  high-handed  deed  is 
more    than    I    can    say.      Everything    was 
against  his  having  any  control  of  Elizabeth's 
future  —  as  he  must  have  known. 
^  No  more  than  a  cap-full  of  wind  was  blow- 
ing—a  light,  fair-weather  draft  off  the  land 
that   scarcely   touched   the   surface   of  the 
snug  harbor.    The  -  Jaguar»s  "  anchor  was 
walked  up  and  a  hnd^le  of  boats  took  her  in 
tow,  dragging  her  at  a  snail's  pace  toward 
the  open  bay.    On  learning  what  had  hap- 
pened, several  boats  from  the  "  Good  For- 
tune "  joined  in  the  towing.    As  she  crawled 
forward,  with  her  great  sails  shaking  out, 
one  by  one,  the  sailors  and  colonists  aboard 
the  other  ship  cheered  like  mad.    Her  upper 


Another  Case  of  Kidnapping      333 

sails  filled.  At  last  she  was  clear  of  the 
little  headland.  She  headed  straight  out 
until  the  wind  found  her  great  mainsails. 
Then  she  set  her  high  prow  on  the  course  of 
the  kidnappers. 

Percy  paced  the  high  forecastle,  in  a  fever 
of  anxiety.  He  knew  that  he  had  no  reason 
to  fear  for  Elizabeth's  safety,  for  the  gov- 
ernor of  Guy's  was,  according  to  his  own 
distorted  view,  acting  for  her  good.  But  all 
manner  of  terrible  accidents  suggested  them- 
selves to  him,  torturing  his  mind  and  wring- 
ing his  heart.  How  had  she  survived  the 
shock  of  the  unexpected  attack?  She  had 
struggled,  of  course  — and  perhaps  the 
rough  fellows  had  hurt  her  in  overpowering 
her.  Had  they  struck  her,  to  silence  her? 
His  blood  boiled  and  his  breath  choked  him 
at  the  thought.  Had  the  gag  hurt  her?  They 
rolled  her  in  a  blanket,  to  hide  her  from  any 
prying  eyes  that  might  look  over  the  ship»s 
side  as  the  bully  drifted  away.  Perhaps!  — 
God  knew!  — perhaps  they  had  smothered 
her!  He  clenched  his  hands  until  his  nails 
furrowed  the  skin.    Or  had  thcv  let  her  fall 


;    j 


l\ 


334 


I    : 


:l. 


^■<'l 


'f: 


^■' 


I' 

t: 


Is  'f 


1 '  I 

"      !,      I, 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


in    lowering    her   from    the    port?     Lord» 
Lord ! 

He  paced  the  forecastle,  in  a  fever  of 
anxiety  that  consumed  common  sense  and 
threatened  reason.  It  was  all  his  fault  He 
should  not  have  left  the  cabin  for  so  long 
Oh,  Heavens!  was  he  to  be  punished  now  for 
his  sins? 

When  he  had  first  realized  that  Mason  was 
responsible   for  her  disappearance  he  had 
felt  distinctly  relieved;    but  now,  with  the 
passing  of  each  slow  minute,  his  madness 
of   apprehension    grew.      Terrible    pictures 
flashed    into    his    mind  -  pictures    of   that 
precious   form   convulsed   in  frantic   stru- 
gling  for  a  breath  of  air -pictures  of  it 
falling,   bound  and  helpless,  from  that  ac- 
cursed port  across  the  thwarts  of  that  thrice- 
damned  boat. 

Coffin  sought  him  out  and  read  the  trouble 
at  a  ghnce.  }lo  was  shocke.l  by  the  pallor 
and  tense  lines  of  bis  friend's  face. 

"  Do  not  act  like  n  fool!  "  he  exclaimed. 
"You  look  like  a  maniac  T^1,ere  are  you^ 
wits?    You  know,  as  well  as  T  do.  that  thert 


if 
ft 


Another  Case  of  Kidnapping      335 


is  nothing  to  worry  about  — beyond  a  little 
brush  with  Mason." 

Percy  did  not  pause  in  his  senseless,  hys- 
terical pacing  of  the  narrow  deck.  But  he 
shot  a  pitiful  glance  at  the  other.  *'  /.  lou- 
sand  things  might  have  happened,"  i .,  said, 
marching  and  turning  and  marching  again! 
"  How  do  you  know  that  she  is  safe?  Mason 
would  not  hurt  her  intentionally  —  but  acci- 
dents! What  of  accidents?  Only  the  Al- 
mighty can  deal  witli  accidents." 

Ccffin  was  seriously  worried  by  his 
friend's   look   and    manner. 

"  Do  you  go  on  like  this  whenever  you  feel 
anxious?  "  he  asked.  "  I  tliought  you  were 
possessed  of  courage  — and  fortitude.  If 
this  is  the  effect  of  love,  then  all  I  can 
say  is  it  is  making  a  shameless  coward  of 
you." 

Percy  paid  no  attention  to  the  words.  *'  I 
should  not  have  left  the  cabin,"  he  mur- 
mured. "  ^y]^ai  does  she  think  of  me?  Does 
she  think  T  have  deserted  her?  " 

Ooflfin  was  determined  to  recall  him  to 
something  approaching  everyday  sense  even 


0 


■3 


336 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


if  he  had  to  prick  his  temper  to  accomplish 

it. 

"  She  would  hope  you  had  if  she  could  see 
you  nov.,"  he  said,  unpleasantly.  "If  you 
do  not  show  a  little  manliness  I'll  warn  her 
that  she  is  trusting  her  life  to  a  weakling  — 
to  a  man  who  cannot  bear  up  against  worry 
and  anxiety.  Do  you  often  get  in  this 
state?  " 

Percy  shook  his  head.  ''  This  is  not  anxi- 
etv,"  he  said.  "  It  is  fear.  It  is  torture.  I 
was  never  afraid  before." 

Coffin  changed  his  tactics.  **  There  is  no 
doubt,"  he  said,  "  but  that  Mason  will  keep 
ahead  of  us,  on  this  breeze.  He  may  get  into 
his  harbor  an  hour  before  us.  Then  he'll 
hand  Elizabeth  over  to  the  care  of  Mistress 
^fason  and  load  his  two  rusty  cannon  for  our 
reception." 

"  He  will  surely  not  be  fool  enough  to 
refuse  to  give  her  up,"  returned  Percy. 
'*  Why,  we  could  blow  his  little  plantation 
to  flinders  in  an  hour." 

**  Of  course  we  could;  but  we  don't  want 
to  do  that,"  replied  Coffin.    "  Tt  would  save 


Another  Case  of  Kidnapping      337 

trouble  —  and  bloodshed,  perhaps  —  if  we 
could  overhaul  them.  With  a  little  more 
wind  it  could  be  done  —  before  sunset." 

**  You  are  right.  Why  don't  you  shake 
out  everything  and  wet  it  down.  Get  what 
breeze  there  is  to  stick  to  the  sails." 

CoflSn  went  down  to  the  main  deck  and 
spoke  to  the  master.  Orders  were  given  and 
briskly  answered.  Every  stitch  of  canvas 
was  spread  to  the  light  breeze.  Men  went 
aloft  with  buckets  of  water  and  splashed 
everything  within  reach.  Coffin  returned  to 
the  high  forecastle.  Percy  was  no  longer 
pacing  the  deck,  but  stood  steady  with  a 
telescope  to  his  eye. 

"  I  see  them,"  he  said.  '*  They  are  close 
inshore.  But  there  is  no  landing  for  them 
within  ten  miles.    We  will  overhaul  them." 


CHAPTim   XXIV 


SOUTHWARD   HO ! 


k 


!)  •! 


l''  i 


\\ 


H: 

P 

i 

..,1 

i 

,  ;  ' 

i'-- 

ii 

'  tl 


> 

Hi' 

i    It 

Now  there  was  more  weight  in  the  wind; 
and  the  "  Jaguar,"  standing  well  out  from 
the  shore,  felt  every  ounce  of  it.  With  the 
quarry  in  sight  and  the  sails  at  work,  Percy 
was  himself  again.  With  his  mind  and 
trained  sea-senses  busy,  the  nightmare  faded 
from  his  heart.  By  day  as  well  as  by  night, 
dreams  come  wlien  the  brain  nods;  and  in 
his  sleep  and  his  dreams  every^  man  is  a 
hundred  times  a  greater  coward  than  when 
he  is  wide  nwako.  TTis  inner  spirit  of  fear, 
left  ungunrded  by  his  nodding  senses,  lies 
open  and  throbbing  to  every  imagining  of 
danger.  Re  awakes,  feels  the  stir  of  every- 
day life  about  him,  henrs  agnin  the  brave 
and  simple  sounds  thnt  he  knows,  and  the 
sanity  of  fainiliar  things  recall^  his  courage. 
And  so  it  was  with  John  Percy.  TTis  brain 
was  awake  and  snnely  at  work  again;    he 

838 


Southward  Ho! 


S39 


saw  the  clear  waters  parted  under  his  ship's 
bows;  he  saw  the  foolish,  fleeing  bullies  in 
front  and  close  to  the  sheer  rock  of  the 
coast;  he  felt  the  increase  ^  jssure  of  the 
wind,  and  the  nightmare  .  .  -d  from  his 
spirit.  ''  Thank  God,  she  is  safe,"  he  said. 
He  was  as  sure  of  it  as  if  she  had  cried  it 
to  him  across  the  water. 

It  was  plain  to  see  that  Mason  was  de- 
feating his  own  ends  by  laying  his  course  so 
close  inshore.  Both  his  small,  undecked 
craft  were  blanketed  by  the  cliflFs.  And 
there  was  no  place  for  him  to  make  a  land- 
ing—no chance  for  him  to  follow  the  tactics 
of  the  other  kidnappers.  Now  the  **  Ja- 
guar "  was  almost  abreast  of  the  bullies. 
Mason  headed  out,  caught  the  wind  and 
swung  up  against  it  again  on  his  old  course. 
His  speed  was  materially  increased;  but, 
alas !  it  was  not  as  great  as  that  of  the  ship. 
Governor  Mason  occupied  the  leading 
boat,  with  his  captives  and  six  men.  The 
gags,  bhinkets  and  cords  had  been  removed 
from  Elizabeth  and  her  companion.  They 
seemed  little  the  worse  for  the  unexpected 


:  , 


1^.^ 


'    ( 


si' 

,1  1 


340  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


'   IW    ,! 


adventure,  though  both  had  been  weeping. 
But  now  they  were  drying  their  eyes  and 
gazing  seaward  at  the  "  Jaguar;  "  for  they 
could  see,  as  well  as  Mason  but  with  very 
different  sensations,  that  the  game  was  al- 
most finished. 

Now  Captain  Mason,  for  all  his  liardihood 
of  spirit,  was  seriously  regretting  his  action. 
He  had  been  guilty  of  many  a  rash  deed  be- 
fore, in  the  course  of  his  long  and  pig-headed 
career;  but  now  he  wondered  if  he  had  ever 
before  dared  so  rashly  for  so  small  a  pos- 
sible reward.  P]ven  if  he  were  to  succeed 
in  keeping  the  girl  what  good  would  come 
of  it?  Sir  Stephen  Morris's  gratitude,  per- 
haps, and  a  complimentary  letter  from  the 
august  heads  of  the  Company.  He  was  get- 
ting past  the  stage  of  caring  for  compli- 
ments; and  he  was  partial  to  the  kind  of 
reward  that  one  can  feel  the  weight  of  in 
one's  pocket.  On  the  other  hand,  what  had 
he  to  expect?  This  Percy  was  one  of  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh's  masteries  captains.  That 
was  all  he  knew  of  him  —  -^  d  quite  enough, 
too.    And  the  men  with  him,  gentle  and  sim- 


mt 


Southward  Ho! 


341 


pie,  were  a  hard-bit  crew.  In  his  rage  and 
disregard  for  all  law  and  order,  might  not 
this  Percy  sink  the  bullies  and  hang  the  well- 
meaning  executor  of  Thomas  Duwaney's 
will?  A  pretty  return  for  trying  to  do  one's 
duty,  truly  I  And  then,  like  the  cruel,  mad 
pirate  that  he  was,  what  more  likfU-  than 
that  he  should  sail  into  the  harbor  of  Guy's 
and  destroy  the  plantation?  What  would  be 
more  unnaturally  natural?  reflected  Gov- 
ernor Mason,  judging  the  captain's  temper 
by  his  own. 

**  I  must  face  the  beast,"  decided  the  gov- 
ernor,  who  lacked  neither  courage  nor  a 
sense  of  duty.  "  The  game  is  up,  and  I  must 
face  and  try  to  appease  him.  It  is  my  duty 
to  do  it.  I  owe  it  to  my  family  and  ray  col- 
ony.   He  is  sure  to  catch  me,  anyway." 

He  shouted  back  to  the  men  in  the  other 
boat,  telling  them  to  hold  to  their  present 
course,  no  matter  what  happened  to  him,  and 
stating  briefly  that  he  was  going  out  to  re- 
turn the  women.  Then  he  swung  out,  before 
the  wind,  and  ran  straight  for  the  **  Ja- 
guar." 


s 


342  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


The  "  Jaguar  "  went  ahout  and  lay  to  at 
the  bully's  approach.  Elizabeth  and  her 
companion  were  hoisted  up  by  ea^er  and 
apprehensive  hands  and  received  aboard  the 
ship  by  willing  arms.  To  the  vast  relief  and 
amazement  of  Mason  and  his  crew,  n(»  fur- 
ther attention  was  paid  to  them  or  their 
craft.  They  were  not  even  invited  aboard 
to  explain  themselves.  They  were  not  so 
much  as  addressed  by  any  one  of  the  ship's 
company,  though  a  boy  leaned  over  the  rail, 
after  the  women  had  been  safely  received 
aboard,  and  put  his  thumb  to  his  nose  and 
fluttered  the  fiugers  of  the  same  hand  in 
Governor  Mason's  direction. 

The  ship  gathered  way  on  her  southward 
course,  tall  and  grand.  The  bully  drifted 
away  from  her  high  side,  unheeded  and  hum- 
bled. A  sigh  of  relief  and  wonder  escaped 
Captain  Mason's  thin  lips. 

''Yes,  sir  — it  do  beat  hell,"  remarked 
one  of  the  crew. 

The  commanders  of  some  sixty  vessels  of 
various  sizes,  shapes  and  nationalities,  held 


ii  i 


•;  t 


Southward  Hoi 


343 


their  breath  when  the  "  Jaguar  "  appeared 
in  the  Narrows.  Many  a  culverin  and  fal- 
conet and  wide-mouthed  cannon  was  hastily 
loaded,  ashore  and  afloat  -  for  the  times 
were  uncertain  times  and  St.  John's  was  an 
uncertain  harbor.  But  the  tall  stranger's 
ports  were  closed,  sail  was  swiftly  dwindling 
above  her  shapely  hull,  and  already  her 
b«.ats  were  out  and  hurrying  under  her  bows 
to  tow  her  up  the  harbor. 

She   was   soon   recognized   as   the   "  Ja- 
guar."   Now  it  happened  that,  since  the  re- 
turn of  certain  half-starved  fishermen  to  the 
port,  only  a  day  or  two  before,  the  feelings 
of  many  burly  fellows  aboard  these  crowded 
craft  had  changed  toward  John  Percy  and 
the  '*  Jaguar."     As  a  pirate-exterminator, 
Percy  had  once  stood  high  in  their  favor; 
but  now,  since  he  had  thrust  in  his  hand 
between   some  of  their  honest  friends  and 
several  thousands  of  golden  coins,  they  were 
in  two  minds  about  him  and  his  ship.    These 
puzzled  souls,  however,  formed  but  a  small 
proportion     of     the     fre.|  neuters     of     that 
crowded   and   unruly  port.     Rough   voices 


4 


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344 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


were  raised  in  friendly  greeting,  an<l  several 
pistols  and  muskets  were  discharged  in  the 
air.  By  the  time  the  *'  .Jaguar  "  had  arrived 
at  her  berth  and  let  go  her  anehor,  a  dozen 
boats  were  alongside.  A  few  gentlemen- 
adventurers  and  nine  shipmasters  boarded 
her  and  were  welcomed  cordially  by  John 
Percy,  and  Down  and  de  Verney.  Coffin  and 
MacAUister  were  quickly  made  known  to  the 
visitors,  the  way  was  led  to  the  after-cabin 
and  refreshments  were  produced  from  locker 
and  pantry.  The  recent  adventures  of  the 
"  Jaguar  "  were  told,  as  well  as  the  misfor- 
tunes of  Bristol's  Hope,  the  death  of  Du- 
waney  and  the  frustration  of  Captain  >fa- 
son's  plans.  Every  one  talko<l;  and  pnv 
ently  the  visitors  began  slapjting  the  gentle- 
men of  the  '*  Jaguar  "  on  their  backs  and 
shaking  their  hands.  They  conf  "inplatt'd 
Harold  Coffin  with  open  astonishment  and 
admiration. 

"Tar  me!"  remarked  one  well-meaning 
skipper,  '*  but,  by  the  looks  o'  the  young 
gentleman,  I'd  nut  trust  'im  to  carve  a  plum- 
duff." 


1 1'  1 


Southward  Ho! 


345 


♦♦  Looks  buin't   everythin',"    replied   an- 
other, politely. 

St.  John's  was  a  stronghold   )f  the  West 
Country  fishing  interests,  and  ko  was  dead 
against    the  colonization    companies.      The 
"  .laguar's  "  visitors,  therefore,  did  not  pre- 
tend to  mourn  Ouwaney's  death,  and  they 
lou<''     applauded  the  story  of  Mas(»n's  sev 
era.    misfortunes    and    set-backs.     For   the 
brush  with  the  kidnapping  fishermen  Percy 
and  his  companions  were  already  forgiven 
by  every  one  of  the  twelve;  for  these  rough 
fellows  could  see,  well  enough,  when  others 
had  done  the  right  thing,  though  they  could 
not  >\\  "fiys  be  dept  ided  upon  to  do  the  right 
thing  '? ' ;    '^Ivcv: 

At  :.  i  ^^^  great  affair  of  Elizabeth  and 
John  r  V  vas  made  known  to  tJiem.  Duwa- 
ney's  daughterl  A  beautif  )  yr\ir\^  lady  who 
crossed  the  ocean  in  plar-e  of  her  brother  — 
and  in  nis  ch  thes!  Am\  ^he  had  let  her  for- 
tune go,  ar  '  defied  Governor  Mason,  because 
she  loved  Captain  Percy!  Ho!  Ho!  Good 
luck  to  her!  That  was  the  kind  of  woman 
for  an  honest  au  '  valorous  man.     'Twas  a 


m9 


It 


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fi  I      I    ;: 


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346 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh^s 


pity  every  sailor  could  not  find  such  a  true- 
blue  lass  as  that.  They  filled  their  mugs 
and  glasses  again  and  drank  Elizabeth's 
health  with  much  shouting  and  befisting  the 
table.  Then  they  demanded  an  opportu- 
nity of  seeing  and  paying  their  respects  to 
her,  for  never  had  they  heard  of  anything, 
ever  before  in  tb' ir  picturesque  lives, 
that  so  inflamed  their  simple  and  romantic 
hearts. 

Elizabeth  and  her  devoted  companion  now 
occupied  the  round-house.  Tlie  woman  was 
the  daughter  of  a  widower,  and  having  lost 
her  father  in  the  battle  with  the  fishermen 
she  had  been  perfectly  willing  to  cast  in  her 
lot  with  that  of  the  young  lady. 

Percy  left  the  cabin,  went  forward  to  the 
round-house  and  explained  matters  to  Eliz- 
abeth. 

The  door  of  the  cabin  opened.  All  sprang 
to  their  feet,  staring.  Poor  dcvUs,  it  was  a 
long  time  since  they  had  seen  a  beautiful 
woman.  Elizabeth  advanced  a  step  and 
stood  gazing  at  them  very  tenderly,  wonder- 
ingly  and  gravely.    In  her  fine,  steady  eyes 


Southward  Ho! 


347 


they  could  see  the  shadows  and  cross-lights 
of  her  grief  and  joy.  "  Thank  you,  gentle- 
men," she  said.  Then  she  curtsied  low,  with 
inimitable  grace,  turned  swiftly  and  van- 
ished from  the  cabin.  Percy  entered,  almost 
on  the  instant,  and  closed  the  door  behind 
him.  He  was  met  by  the  shout  of  applause 
that  the  girl's  brief  appearance  had  in- 
spired. 

*•  Bring  her  back,"  they  cried.  "  Oh,  the 
angel!  'Twas  like  a  glint  o'  Heaven  to  see 
such  iu  this  place  o'  fish  an'  fogs  an' 
brawlin'.  Maybe  she'll  come  back  an'  say 
another  ftw  words  to  us." 

Percy  excused  her  to  them,  telling  them  of 
her  grief  at  the  loss  of  her  father  and  how 
it  was  intensified  by  the  wrongful  way  in 
which  he  had  treated  her  in  his  will,  plotting 
to  marry  her  to  an  old  man  against  her 
wishes.  They  immediately  became  quiet, 
and  expressed  their  sympathy  for  her  in  odd 
but  sincere  terms. 

Now  Percy  made  inquiries  as  to  where  and 
how  a  parson  could  be  found  and  learned 
that  there  were  two  ashore,  one  a  desperate 


348 


A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


Hi 


1  ■ 

■  i| 

1;     ;i 

■    * »  . 

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1 

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■  1 1, 

■ '  1 
* 

if 

t   i'^ 

wiL 

^^^■^_^^^ 

fellow  who  had  served  a  term  of  imprison- 
ment in  England  for  attempting  to  murder 
his  groom,  and  had  escaped  hanging  only 
through  the  influence  of  his  family  at  court, 
and  the  other  a  poor  young  scholar  from 
Oxford  who  had  fled  from  his  country  and 
his  spiritual  charge,  and  taken  to  drink  and 
dice,  because  of  some  single  point  in  the 
ritual  of  the  Church  which  he  could  not  bring 
himself  to  entirely  agree  with.  It  was  de- 
cided by  all  that  Master  Bent,  the  cleric  who 
tried  to  drown  the  consciousness  of  his  doubt 
under  floods  of  rum,  was  the  better  suited 
of  the  two  for  the  performance  of  the  service 
of  holy  matrimony. 

"  For  he  hain't  a  lad  lad  at  heart,"  ex- 
plained one  of  the  shipmasters.  "  He'd  be 
a  canon  now,  like  as  not,  or  maybe  a  dean, 
if  it  wasn't  for  sometliin'  about  a  apostolic 
procession  that  he  couldn't  quite  swallow. 
He  has  told  me  all  about  it.  many's  the  time, 
over  a  bowl  o'  punch — but  my  head  hain't 
much  on  such  p'ints." 

So  it  was  decided  that  Master  Bent  should 
be  notified  and  sobered,  and  that  the  mar- 


Southward  Hoi 


349 


riage  should  take   place  aboard   the  "  Ja- 
guar "  early  on  the  morrow. 

John  Percy  had  a  good  deal  of  bauiness 
to  attend  to  in  a  short  time.    It  was  not  his 
intention  to  make  the  southward  trip  in  the 
"  Jaguar,"  because  of  the  risk  to  Elizabeth 
in  so  doing.    The  *'  Jaguar  "  was  a  bird  of 
storm,  a  mark  on  the  high  seas,  a  signal  for 
the  ships  of  the  king,  all  pirates  and  heavy 
laden  Spaniards  to  be  up  and  doing.     So, 
assisted  by  many  shipmasters,  he  examined 
fully  a  dozen  vessel?    that  were  willing  to 
accept  a  two  months  charter,   and  at  last 
selected  a  stout  little  brig  of  about  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  tons  sea  register  for  the 
momentous  voyage  to  iiis  retreat  among  the 
tropic  islands.     The  name  of  the  brig  was 
the  "Lucky  Brother  "  — and  the  shipmas- 
ters all  agreed  that  if  was  a  very  seemly  and 
appropriate  name,  for  if  Captain  Percy  pos- 
sessed a  brother  (the  captain  admitted  this 
with  a  nod),  then,  considering  the  charms  of 
the  young  lady,   he   (the  captain)   was  his 
brother's  lucky  brother.    One  gentleman,  in 
ear-rings  and  sea-boots,  refused  to  see  the 


850  A  Captain  of  Raleigh's 


;^i 


I* 


i  l!i 


t 


»rgument  at  first;  but  they  made  it  clear 
to  him  in  time,  in  a  reeking  tavern  by  the 
harbor-side. 

A  score  of  men  were  put  to  work  immedi- 
ately on  the  "  Lucky  Brother,"  and  in  the 
course  of  a  few  hours  her  cabin  was  en- 
larged, her  paint  touched  up,  and  inboard 
she  was  scrubbed  and  scraped  from  end  to 
end.  Her  crew  was  reinforced  by  five  lads 
from  the  "Jaguar."  who  would  stay  with 
their  old  commander  uniil  such  time  as  the 
two  vessels  should  have  to  part  company. 

The  wedding  took  place  at  noon,  aboard 
the  "  Jaguar."  A  sober  but  somewhat  low- 
spirited  young  cleric  officiated.  Master  Cof- 
fin, arrayed  in  a  suit  of  plum-colored  velvet, 
gave  the  bride  away.  The  groom  was  sup- 
ported by  Masters  Down,  de  Vemey  and 
MacAJlister  and  barked  (which  is  said  with- 
out hyperbole)  by  every  adventurer,  mer 
chant  and  shipmaster  in  the  port.  Tlie 
'•  Lucky  Brother  "  lay  at  her  new  berth 
close  alongside,  bedecked  with  bunting. 

An  hour  later,  amid  u  blowing  of  horns 


Sr^^^^WSE^S^^f^^^^E^ 


Southward  Hoi 


351 


and  firing  of  guns,  the  two  vessels  were 
towed  out  of  the  harbor,  between  the  frown- 
ing walls  of  the  Narrows,  by  swarms  of 
eager  skiffs  manned  by  shouting  fellows. 
The  white  sails  blossomed  on  their  tall  spars 
and  side  by  side,  but  with  safe  sea-room 
between,  they  trimmed  their  wings  to  a 
piping  breeze,  bound  southward  ho ! 

For  weeks  they  will  sail  and  sail,  the  ''  Ja- 
guar "  and  the  "  Lucky  Brother  "  never 
losing  sight  of  one  another  across  those 
vasty  acres.  At  last,  among  the  spicy  is- 
lands, they  will  part,  the  "  Jaguar  "  bound 
on  her  brave  but  lawless  quest,  the  "  Lucky 
Brother  "  to  let  go  her  anchor  in  a  crystal 
roadstead,  palm-fringed,  peace-enfolded,  far 
and  far  and  hull-down  from  the  world  of 
kings  and  battle  and  revenge. 


THE  END. 


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-.  ^        .     -ta»''       — .       -4  a 


:$^^ 


^■^t6>'fSats 


From 

L.  C.  Page  &  Company's 

Announcement  List 

of  New   Fiction 


THE  STORY  GIRL 

Bv  L.  M.   MONTXJOMERT. 

Cloth,  12tno,  illustrated,  decorative  Jacket  .  ZllyO 

To  quote  from  one  of  our  editor'a  report*  on  the  new  Mont- 
gomery book  —  "  Miss  Montgomery  ha«  decidedly  arrived  in  this 
story!  "  The  remarkable  Huccess  of  her  delightful  Annk  hookH 
and  of  the  charming  "  Kilmeny  of  the  Orchard  "  has  estahlishfd 
her  08  one  of  America's  leading  authors  —-  a  writer  of  books 
which  touch  the  heart,  uplift  the  spirit,  and  leave  an  imprint  of 
lasting  sweetness  on  tin;  memory.  But  in  "The  Story  dirl," 
everywhere  the  touch  of  the  finixhed  artist  is  evident  —  a  smooth- 
ness and  polish  which  heightens  the  unusual  style  of  a  gifted 
author. 

The  environment  is  again  the  author's  beloved  Prince  l<]<iw!ird 
I^and  a>(d  the  story  and  incidents  pos-sess  the  same  simnlicity 
and  charm  which  ch;!racterize  Miss  Montgomery's  earlier  hMX)k8 
The  Story  Girl,  herself  —  Sara  Stanly  —  is  a  fascinating 
creature,  and  will  delight  and  thrill  her  read»^rs  with  her  weird 
tales  of  ghosts  "  and  things."  She  tells  in  wondr  voice  of 
'The  Mystery  of  the  Oolden  Milestone,"  "  How  Kissing  \\i\n 
pi3eov.'red,"  and  of  just  how  the  Milky  Way  happened  info  the 
heavens.  She  will  make  you  feel  the  spell  of  the  .M  orchard 
where  she  and  her  playmati-s  srM'n<i  such  hanpv  <lav.-  :itid  witl 
Felix,  Dan  and  Beverly  you  will  live  again  with  her  tli«>  "  trage- 
dies of  childhood" 

Of  Miss  Montgomery's  previouf  books,  the  reviewers  havp 
w.tten  as  follows: 

"  The  art  which  pervades  ever>'  page  is  so  refined  that  the  eul- 
tivated  imagination  will  return  to  the  storv  again  and  again  in 
memory  to  find  always  something  fresh  to  enjoy."  —  Torontn 
World. 

"  Miss  Montgomery  has  attained  an  honored  place  among  the 
worth-while  writers  of  fiction."  —  Beacon  and  Budget. 

"  Mi.ss  Montgomery  hjis  a  synipatheti'-  knowledge  of  human 
nature,  joined  to  high  ideals,  a  reasonably  romantic  view  point 
and  a  distinct  gift  of  description."  —  Chicago  Reatrd-HmM. 


f:     ii 


L.    C.   PAGE   dr*    COMPAXY'S 


I     I 


A  CAPTAm  OF  RALEIGH'S 


Cavalier  f>f  Vir- 


By  G.  E.  Theodokk  Kobekts,  author  (if  "  A  Ca' 

Hinia,"  "  Comradi's  of  the  Trails,"  "  R«h1  F«'ather8,"  ttc. 

Cloth,  12mo,  illiwtrated,  decorative  jacket 

Nit  $1.25  (carriage,  13c.  extra) 

A  typical  Roberta  romance  —  diu^hiiiK  und  bilsk  with  the 
scenes  for  the  most  part  laid  in  the  infant  colony  of  Newfound- 
land, at  the  time  when  Sir  Waller  Raleigh  an'd  other  famous 
<'aptains  pwept  the  Heat;  for  England.  Sir  Walter  is  one  of  the 
characters  in  the  romance  but  the  chief  interest  centres  alwut  ono 
of  his  ofhcers.  Captain  John  Percy. 

Elizabeth  Duwaney,  the  heroine,  is  lK>autiful  and  vivacious 
enough  to  miite  turn  the  heads  of  the  several  gallant  gentlemen 
who  struggle  for  her  ham!,  and  to  keej)  the  reodcr  guesf-ing  until 
the  very  la*<t  page  a^i  to  wiiich  miitor  will  find  favor  in  h«r  eyes. 
I'nusual  and  unexpTtetl  siuiations  in  Ihc  plot  are  handU<l  skil- 
fully and  you  close  the  bdt  k  agreeing  with  our  ("ditor  that  "  Mr. 
Roberts  ha.s  given  us  another  capital  varn!  " 

"  Mr.  Roberts  hiis  undoubted  skill  in  portraying  character 
and  carrying  events  along  t«)  a  satisfactory  conclusion."  — 
The  Swnrl  Set. 

"  One  can  alway.'^  pre<lict  of  a  book  by  Mr.  Roberts  that  it 
will  be  interesting.  ( )ne  can  go  further  and  predict  that  tin  book 
will  be  fascinating,  exciting  and  thrilling."  —  Boston  Globe. 

A  SOLDIER  OF  VALLEY  FORGE 

By  RoHEUT  Neilson  Stephens,  autlior  of  "  .\n  Enemy  to  the 
Kinj!;,"  "  Philip  Winwofxi."  ( tc,  and  G.  E.  Theodokb 
Roherts.  author  of  "  Hemming,  the  Adventurer,"  "  Red 
Feathers,"  etc. 

12mo,  cloth  decorative,  illustrated         .  .        .        fl-V) 

The  manv  admirers  of  the  brilliant  historiral  romances  of  the 
late  Robert  Xeilson  Stephens  will  be  gratified  at  the  anmiunce- 
nicnt  of  a  jmsthunious  work  by  that  piftinl  writer.  The  '•ough 
draft  of  the  story  was  laid  asifl*'  for  otlier  work,  and  later,  with- 
out completing  tie  novel,  the  plot  was  uti!i/<'d  for  a  play.  With 
the  play  corii|ileteil  Mr.  Slejihetis  again  1  urne<!  liis  attention  to 
the  novel,  but  death  prevented  its  completion.  Mr.  Roberts  has 
handled  his  difficult  task  of  completing  the  work  with  care  and 
skill. 

The  story,  like  that  of  "  The  Continental  Dragoon,"  takes  as 
its  theme  an  incident  in  the  Revolution,  and,  as  in  the  earlier 
novel,  the  .scene  is  the  '■  debatable  ground  "  north  of  New  York. 
In  interest  of  plot  and  originality  of  dcvclopiiient  it  is  as  re- 
markable as  the  earlier  work,  but  it  is  more  mature,  more  force- 
ful, more  reoZ. 


.^iii^ilt' 


'^ 


^\':m' 


L/ST   OF  JVElt^  F/Cr/O.V 


THB  RED  FOX'S  SON 

By  Edqah  M.  Dillet. 

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Picturesaue  Bharbazonia  —  a  province  of  the  Balkan  penin- 
sula —  ia  the  Betlinn  for  thia  eparklinn  "  Zenda  "  novel,  which 
quite  Burpasaes  the  regulation  story  of  modern  rnyatery  and  ad- 
venture, when  the  diwhing  young  American  goes  to  the  "mythical, 
but  interesting  Balkan  States,  and  creates  havoc  in  (he  hearta  of 
the  Slavs,  himself  becoming  a  slave  to  the  beautiful  prineeas  of 
the  country.     It  is  n  ronmnce  rich  in  exciting  detail,  and  haH 

flamour,  dash,  vivacity  and  apirit  of  the  moat  pleasing  order, 
n  every  page  of  "  The  lied  Fox's  Son  "  the  fiction  lover  will  find 
fascinating  reading. 


r  r  r 


THE  DILEMMA  OF  ENGELTIE 
By  Emma  Ratner,  author  of  "  Free  to  Serve,"  etc. 
Cloth,  12mo,  illustrated.  Net  SI. 35  (carriage,  12c.  extra) 

Given  a  wedding  irrevocably  decree<i,  the  date  of  the  actual 
ceremony  aomewhere  on  the  limits  of  a  fortnight  ahead;  given 
a  bride  but  not  a  groom,  a  maid  of  the  old  Dutch  New  York  days 
pretty  enough  to  turn  men's  heads  for  her  beauty  alone,  well 
dowered  enough  to  be  one  of  the  prize.^  of  the  decade;  the  wedding 
festivities,  merrymakings  these  Dutch  colonial  worthies  loved 
to  give  to  proapective  brides  and  grooms,  in  full  Ewing;  half  a 
dozen  young  Dutchmen  with  hands  outatretched  ready  to  grasp 
the  prize  and  reciprocate  the  maiden's  vows  would  she  but  nod 
their  way;  the  wedding^  itself  at?  sure  aa  ftite  or  death;  the  bride 
upon  the  scene,  receiving  the  honors  of  the  occasion  —  alone; 
the  bridegroom  an  unknown  quantity;  the  days  racing  by  in 
mirth  and  festivity  and  the  wedding  daily  drawing  nearer: 
problem  — find  the  bridegroom! 

The  setting  for  this  unusual  situation  is  quaint  New  Isetfaer- 
lands,  in  1702,  shortly  after  England  had  succeeded  in  wresting 
from  Holland  her  prosperous  colony  in  the  New  World.  The 
sharj)  contra-st  between  the  primitive  conditions  of  the  neigh- 
boring settlements  and  the  comparative  liixurv  of  the  town  ia 
well  iM)rtrayed,  and  forms  an  evcrchanging  background  to  a 
tale  of  unusual  excellence  both  in  the  conception  and  in  the 
development  of  its  novel  plot. 


/     C.  PAdi    *•   COMPANY'S 


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THE  CHRONICLES  OF  MADELYN  MACK 

By  Hugh  C.  Weiu 

Cloth,  12mo,  illudtrati-d $1.50 

Lovers  of  rapid  action,  itinoniouH  mtufitiont  .ind  pxcitonn-nt 
will  liml  iibutKlttnt  ent'  rtaininent  in  following  tLe  Hdvtntiirofl 
and  career  of  M  id«'!yii  luck  —  ii  veritable  wizard  at  her  trade 
—  thfc  heroine  ')f  thin  elever  and  Htmightforwurd  detective  novel. 
Her  career  is  brimful  of  ev.'itenicut,  one  continuoiiH  nericH  of 
ailventun-H,  which  ninstitiitc  a  tali-  of  -wift  and  dramatic  action. 
Clever  lu  plot  and  ctTtr'  ,(  in  Ktyle,  the  author  has  Bcizcnl  on 
uome  of  the  most  »ensauuii:il  features  of  inodeni  life,  and  the 
reader  who  has  a  grain  of  f.mcy  :)r  iniagin.it ion  may  be  dtfied 
to  lay  thiij  bouk  down  oucu  hu  hut)  beguu  it  until  the  lat«t  word  is 
reached. 

MISS  BILLY 

By  Eleanor  H.  Porter. 

Cloth,  12mo,  i1lu.strated  Net  $1  25  (carrifige,  12c.  extra) 

"  Hilly,"  in  thi.s  irnlanee,  is  the  name  of  a  very  dainty  and 
pretty  girl  with  pink  cheekn  ami  a  wealth  of  curly  hair  and  the 
tweetest  of  imilea.  When  you  first  meet  her  in  the  story  i^he  is 
all  that  her  name  implies  —  a  harum-scarum  i  c  len  of  si-xtceo 
who  quite  unknowingly  succeeds  in  coinpicteiy  upnetting  the 
quiet  and  dignity  of  the  lieaeon  Sire«>t  household  of  the  three 
HfnHhaw  !■  >vs,  who  had  hitherto  !ive<l  an  uneventful  life  in 
"  The  Strata,"  as  the  old  Boston  mansion  was  fittingly  t<>mied 
by  Bertraai:  the  youngrat  of  the  brothers.  But  Billv  grows  up. 
and  aliriost  before  f.ht  herself  realizes  i'  a  rou<ance  has  entered 
her  life  —  one  of  those  charming  .ind  refreshing  romanef.4  which 
strike  a  sympathetic  chord  in  the?  hearts  of  its  reaflers  and  brings 
back  fond  mcmorea  of  "  the  glamour  and  joys  of  youth." 


i 
^     I 


Selections  from 
L.  C.  Page  and  Company's 
List  of  Fiction 


WORKS  OF 

ROBERT  NEILSON  STEPHENS 

Each  CTu  vol.,  library  l2mo,  doth  decorativ*  $1.50 

THE  FLIGHT  OF  GEORGIAlfA 

A  Ro»lANCE  01  THB  DaT»  or  THB  YOUWO  PRSTXirDSK.     Illui- 

trated  by  H.  C.  Edwards. 

"  A  love-«torv  in  the  higheat  degree,  a  dashing  story,  and  a  ra- 
markably  weU  finished  piece  of  work."  —  Chicago  Rtcori^Utralii. 

THE  BRIGHT  FACE  OF  DANGER 

Being  tua  account  of  some  adventures  of  Henri  de  Launay,  aon 

of  the  Sieur  de  la  Tournoire.    lUufltrated  by  H.  C.  Edwirds. 

h^^^L  ^Tr""!"  ^^  ^""'L^  outdone  himself.     We  thank  him 

heartily.    The  etory  is  nothing  if  not  spirited  and  entertaimu*. 

rational  and  convincing."  —  Boaton  Trantcnpt.  "*"^*»»«» 

THE  MYSTERY  OF  MURRAY  DAVEWPORT 

(40th  thousand.) 
TKl2?f  ".easily  the  best  thing  that  Mr.  Stephens  has  yet  done 
Tho«  familiar  with  his  other  novels  can  best  judge  the  meaauS 
of  thu  praiae,  which  is  generous."  —  Buffalo  N«^        mw-ura 

CAPTADf  RAVENSHAW 

^/•br^^iJ^"*  ?'■  <^'*»*">B-    (52d  thousand.)    A  romanee 
other  BrtkU       London.     lUusirationa  by  Howard  Pyle  uid 

Not  since  the  absorbing  adventures  of  D'Artagnan  have  we  bad 
anything  so  good  in  the  blend  xi  vein  of  romanw  and  wmedyT 

THE  CONTIHEirTAL  DRAGOON 

A   Romance  OF   Philipsb   Manor  Hooti.  in  1778.     f«d 
thousand.)    Illustrated  by  H.  C.  Edwards 


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MICROCOPY    RESOLUTION   TEST  CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No    2) 


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^  /APPLIED  IIVHGE     I 

SS*.  '65 J    Ea-.t    Wa:r;    Streel 

~«S  f^oches'er.    Ne*    York         14609       USA 

^—  ("16)    482  -  OJOO  -  Phone 

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^.  C.  F/IG/i  Of  COMPANY*S 


PHILIP  wnrwooD 

(70th  thousand.)  A  Sketch  of  the  Domestic  History  cf  Kb 
Americaa  Captain  in  the  War  of  Independence,  embracing 
events  that  occurred  between  and  during  the  years  Xl'ai  and 
1785  in  New  York  and  London  Illustrated  by  E.  W.  D 
Hamilton. 

AN  ENEMY  TO  THE  KING 

(70th  thousand.)  From  the  "  Recently  Discovered  Memoini 
of  the  Si>ur  de  la  Toumoire."  Illustrated  by  H.  De  M.  Yoimg 
An  historical  romance  of  the  sixteenth  century,  describing  tha 

adventures  of  a  young  French  nobleman  at  the  court  of  Henrjf 

III.,  and  on  the  field  with  Henry  IV. 

THE  ROAD  TO  PARIS 

A  &roRT  OF  Advrntore.    (35th  thousand.)    Xllustrated  b> 

H.  C.  Edwards 

An  histoiical  romance  of  the  eighteenth  century,  being  an 
account  of  the  life  of  an  American  gentleman  aoventurer  of 
Jacobite  ancestry. 

A  GENTLEMAN  PLAYER 

His  Adventures  on  a  Secret  Mission  for  Queen  Emza 
BETH.    (48th  thousand.)    Illustrated  by  Frank  T.  Merrill. 
The  story  of  a  young  gentleman  who  joins  Shakespeare's  com- 
pany of  players,  and  becomes  a  friend  and  prot^g^  of  the  great 
poet. 

CLEMENTINA'S  HIGHWAYMAN 

Cloth  decorative,  illustrated 11.50 

Mr.  Stephens  has  put  into  his  new  book,  "  Clementina's  High- 
wayman,   the  finest  qualities  of  plot,  construction,  and  literary 
finish. 
The  story  is  laid  in  the  mid-Georgian  period.    It  is  a  dashing 

Sarkling,   vivacious  comedy,   with  a  neroine  as^  lovely  and 
angeable  as  an  April  day,  and  a  hero  all  ardor  and  daring. 

TALES  FROM  BOHEMIA 

nitwtrated  by  Wallace  Qoldflmith. 

Qotb,  decorative  cover 11.60 

'Vumt  bright  and  clever  tales  deal  with  people  of  the  theatra 
ana  odd  ebaiaetew  in  other  walt.s  of  life  which  fringe  on  Bohemia 


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USr  OF  FICTION 


WORKS  OF 

CHARLES  G.  D.  ROBERTS 

HAUNTERS  OF  THE  SILENCES 

Cloth,  one  volume,  with  manv  drawings  by  Charles  LiviogBton 
Bull,  four  of  which  are  in  full  color        ....     12.00 
The  stories  in  Mr.  Roberts's  new  collection  are  the  strongest  aiid 
best  he  has  ever  written. 

He  has  largely  taken  for  his  subjects  those  animals  rarely  met 
with  in  books,  whose  Uves  are  spent "  In  the  Silences,"  where  they 
are  the  supreme  rulers.  Mr.  Roberts  has  written  of  them  sympa- 
thetically, as  always,  but  with  fine  regard  for  the  scientific  truth, 
"  As  a  writer  about  animals,  Mr.  Roberts  occupies  an  enviable 
place.  He  is  the  most  literary,  as  well  as  the  most  imaginative 
and  vivid  of  all  the  nature  writers."  —  Brooklyn  Eagle. 

RED  FOX 

The  Story  op  His  Adventubous  Career  in  the  Rinowaak 
Wilds,  and  of  His  Final  Triumph  over  the  Enemies  or 
Hi8  Kind.  With  fifty  illustrations,  including  frontispiece  in 
color  and  cover  design  by  Charles  Livingston  Bull. 

Square  quarto,  cloth  decorative $2.00 

"  True  in  substance  but  fascinating  as  fiction.  It  will  interest 
old  and  young,  city-bound  and  free-footed,  those  who  Imow  ani- 
mals and  those  who  do  not."  —  Chicago  Record-Herald. 

"  A  brilliant  chapter  in  n."tural  history."  —  PhUaddphia  North 
American. 

THE  KINDRED  OF  THE  WILD 

A  Book  of  Animal  Life.  With  fifty-one  full-i>a|e  plates  and 
many  decorations  from  drawings  by  Charles  Livmgston  Bull, 

Square  quarto,  decorative  cover S2.00 

"  Is  in  many  ways  the  most  brilliant  collection  of  animal  stories 
that  has  appeared;  well  named  and  well  done."  —  John  Bur- 
roughs. 

THE  WATCHERS  OF  THE  TRAILS 

A  companion  volume  to  "  The  Kindred  of  the  Wild."    With 
forty-eight  full-page  plates  and  many  dscorations  from  dra\ 
ings  by  Charles  Livingston  Bull. 
Square  quarto,  decorative  cover  .       .       .       .     S2  00 


lip    i 


Z.  C.  PAGE  *•  COMPANY'S 


'fl     I 


I    *iJ^*^  "tone*  are  exquisite  in  their  refinement,  and  yet  robuat 
to  their  appreciation  of  some  of  the  rougher  phaaec  of  woodcraft. 

R,il'l J'ftf'tif'.M  '""  °f .•i«.ii8'»t-  A°  wlditional  charm  lie.  in  Mr. 

f  n  iu   '^  "^'^  graphic  iliuatrationfl,  which  in  faahion  aU  their 

own  teU  the  story  of  the  wild  life,  illuminating  and  aupplementinc 

the  pen  pictures  of  the  author."  —  Literori/ I>i/ii«<.         """""^ 

THE  HOUSE  Df  THE  WATER 

With  thirty  full-page  illustrations  bv  Charles  Livingston  Bull 

SlrKvin^S  a'-    ^-<^-i8--d  decor^ons  by 

12mo,  cloth  decorative      ....  11  50 

-«^i^^?!?  paragraph  is  a  splendid  picture,  suggesting  in  a  few 

words  the  appeal  of  the  vast,  illimitable  wfldemeM."  —  Th» 

Lnuxigo  Tribune, 

THE  HEART  THAT  KNOWS 

Library  12mo,  cloth,  decorative  cover  .  ji  kq 

«n1n,  ^^h^  °/  singularly  effective  strength,  luminous  in  Uteriry 
color,  nch  m  its  passionate,  yet  tender  drama."-  -New  York  GloU. 

EARTH'S  ENIGMAS 

A  new  edition  of  Mr.  Roberts's  first  volume  of  fiction,  pub- 
Iished  »n  1892,  and  out  of  print  for  several  years,  with  the  addi- 
Lvingston'mzir''  ''°"^'  ^"^  ^''^  illustrations  by  Charles 
Library  12mo,  cloth,  decorative  cover  .  $ i  50 

•  V.liJ"%  ^*"''  "J*^^  *"^j°"S  collections  of  short  stories.  In 
H~fl  if  fK  w^M^n  "^  a  wider  range  of  subject  than  in  the  '  Kin- 
dred of  the  \yild.'  "-Rernew  rom  advance  sheets  of  the  iUuetraUi 
edition  by  Tiffany  Blake  in  the  Chicago  Evening  Post.    "*'*"^"*~ 

BARBARA  LADD 

With  four  illustrations  by  Frank  Verbeck. 

Library  12mo,  cloth,  decorative  cover  .  «i  50 

From  the  opening  chapter  to  the  final  page  Mr.  Robert,  lures 

u.  on  by  his  rapt  devotion  to  the  changing  aspects  of  Nature  and 

brtas  keen  and  sympathetic  analysis  of  human  character"  — 


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